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1 


VINDICATION 


OF    THE 


RIGHTS  OF   WOMAN: 


WITH 


STRICTURES 


/ 


/ 


ON 


POLITICAL   AND  MORAL  SUBJECTS. 


BY  MARY  WOLLSTONECRAFT,       rodw 


PRINTED   AT    BOSTON, 

BY  PETER  ED ES  for  THOMAS  and  ANDREWS, 

Faust's  Statue,  No.  45,  Newbury- Street, 

MDCCXCU, 


T  0 

M.  TALLEYRAND-PERIQORD, 

J.ATg     BlsaOP    OF     AUTVN. 

SIR, 


.  AVING  read  with  great  pleafurc  a  pam- 
phlet, which  you  have  lately  publillied,  on  Na- 
tional Education,  I  dedicate  this  volume  to  you 
-^the  firfl  dedication  that  I  have  ever  written,  to 
induce  you  to  read  i^  with  attention  ^    and,   be- 
caufe  I    think    that  you   will    underftand   me, 
which  I  do  not  fuppofc  many  pert  v/itlings  will, 
who  may  ridicule  the  arguments  they  are  unable 
-to  anfwer.     But,    Sir,    I   carry  my  relped  for 
your  underftanding  ilill  farther ;  fo  far,    that  I 
am  confident  yoji  will  no^  throw  my  work  afide, 
and  haftily  conclude  that  I  am  in  the  wrong,  be- 
caufe  you    did  not  view   the  fubjcd:  in  the  fame 
light  yourfelf.     And,  pardon  my  franknefs,  but 
I  muii  obfcrve,   that  you  treated  it  \n  too  curfo- 
ry  a  manner,   contented  to  confider  it  as  it  had 
been  confidered  formerly,  when  the  rights  of 
man,  not  to  advert  to  woman,  were  tram  pled  on 
as  chimerical — I  call  upon  you,  therefore,  now 
A3  to 


vi  DEDICATION. 

to  weigh  what  I  have  advanced  rcfpeding  the 
rights  of  woman,  and  national  education — and  I 
call  with  the  firm  tone  of  humanity.  For  my 
arguments.  Sir,  are  dicftated  by  a  difinterefted 
ipirit^— i  plead  for  my  fex — not  for  myfelf.  In*» 
dependence  I  have  long  confidered  as  the  grand 
bleffing  of  life,  the  bafis  of  every  virtue — and 
independence  I  will  ever  fecure  by  contracting 
my  wants,  though  I  were  to  live  on  a  barren 
heath, 

It  is  then  an  affedion  for  the  whole  human 
race  that  makes  my  pen  dart  rapidly  along  to 
fupport  what  I  believe  to  be  the  caufe  of  virtue  : 
and  the  fame  motive  leads  me  earneftlv  to  wifli 
to  fee  woman  placed  in  a  flation  in  which  fhe 
would  advance,  inftead  of  retarding,  the  progrefs 
of  thofe  glorious  principles  that  give  a  fubflance 
to  morality.  My  opinion,  indeed,  refpedling 
the  rights  and  duties  of  woman,  fcems  to  flow 
£o  naturally  from  thefe  fimple  principles,  that  I 
think  it  fcarcely  poflible^  but  that  fome  of  the 
enlarged  minds  who  form.ed  your  admirable  con- 
fiitution,  will  coincide  with  me. 

In  France  there  is  undoubtedly  a  more  general 
difFufion  of  knov»^ledge  than  in  any  part  of  the 
European  world,  and  I  attribute  it,  in  a  great 
meafure^  to  the  focial  intercourfe  which  has  long 
fubfifted  between  the  fexes.  It  is  true,  I  utter 
my  fentiments  with  freedom,  that  in  France  the 

very 


DEDICATION,  mi 

*  -  .  » 

very  eilence  of  fenfuality  has  been  extradied  to 
regale  the  voluptuary,  and  a  kind  of  fentimental, 
Juft  has  prevailed,  which,  together  with  the  fyf^ 
tern  of  duplicity  that  the  whole  tenor  of  their 
political  and  civil  government  taught,  have  giv- 
en a  linifter  fort  of  iagacity  to  the  French  cha-. 
rader,  properly  termed  fineffe,  and  a  polifli  of 
manners  that  injures  the  fubftance,  by  hunting 
fmcerity  out  pf  fociety. — And,  modefly,  the 
faireft  garb  of  virtue  !  has  been  more  grofsly  in-, 
fulted  in  France  than  even  in  England,  till  their 
women  have  treated  as  priidijb  that  attention  ^o 
decency,  which  brutes  infti natively  obferve.  > 
Manners  and  morals  are  fo  nearly  allied  that 
they  have  often  been  confounded  j  but,  thougl\ 
^he  fDrmer  {lioiild  only  be  the  natural  refie6lioriL 
of  the  latter,  yet,  v/hen  various  caufes  have  pro- 
duced fa<5litious  and  corrupt  manners,  which  are 
very  early  caught,  morality  becomes  an  empty- 
name.  The  perfonal  referve,  and  facred  rgfpedi 
for  cleanlinefs  and  delicacy  in  domeftic  life,  which 
French  women  almoft  defpife,  are  the  graceful, 
pillars  of  modefty  |  but,  far  from  defpifing  them, 
if  the  pure  flame  of  patriotifm  have  reached  their 
bofoms,  they  fliould  labour  to  irnprove  the  mor- 
als of  their  fellow-citizens,  by  teaching  men,  not 
only  to  rcfpe6t  mpdefly  in  women,  but  to  ac- 
quire it  thsmfelves,  as  the  only  way  to  merit  their 
^.fteem. 

A  4  Contending 


Viii  DEDICATION. 

Contending  for  the  rights  of  woman,  my- 
main  argument  is  built  on  this  fimple  principle, 
that  if  fhe  be  not  prepared  by  education  to  be- 
come tTie  companion  of  man,  fhe  will  flop  the 
prOgrefs  of  knowledge,  for  truth  muft  be  com- 
Tnon  to  all,  or  it  will  be  inefficacious  with  re- 
fpe6t  to  its  influence  on  general  pradice.  And 
how  can  woman  be  expedled  to  co-operate  un- 
lefs  fhe  know  why  l"he  ought  to  be  virtuous  ? 
imlefs  freedom  ftrengthen  her  reafon  till  fhe  com- 
prehend her  duty,  and  fee  in  what  manner  it  is 
conncdled  with  her  real  good  ?  If  children  are  to 
be  educated  to  underfland  the  true  principle  of 
patriotilm,  their  mother  muft  be  a  patriot  ;  and 
the  love  of  mankind,  from  which  an  oiderly 
:|rain  of  virtues  fpring,  can  only  be  produced  by 
confidering  the  moral  and  civil  intereft  of  manr 
Icind ;  but  the  education  and  fituation  of  woman, 
i>t  prefent,  fhuts  her  out  from  fuch  inveftiga^ 
tions. 

In  this  work  I  have  prouduccd  many  argu- 
ments, which  to  me  were  conclufive,  to  prove 
that  the  prevailing  notion  refpecting  a  fexual  cha^ 
raifler  was  fubverfive  of  morality,  and  I  have  con- 
tended, that  to  render  the  human  body  and  mind 
mote  perfe6t,  chaftity  muft  more  univerfally  pre- 
vail, and  that  chaftity  vvill  never  be  refpedted  in 
^he  male  world  till  the  perfon  of  a  woman  is  not, 
as  it  were,  idolized,  when  \i\th  virtue  or  fcnic 

embeiliih 


DEDICATION. 


ix 


(smbellilli  it  with  the  grand  traces  of  mental 
beauty,  or  the  intercfting  fimplicity  of  afFec- 
lion, 

Confidcr,  Sir,  difpafllonately,  thefe  obferva- 
tions — for  a  glimpfe  of  this  truth  feemed  to  open 
before  you  when  you  obferved,   *  that  to  fee  ohe 

*  half  of  the  human  race  excluded  bv  the  other 

*  from   all   participation  of  government,  was  a 

*  political  ph^enomenon  that,  according  to  ab- 

*  flradt  principles,  it  was  impofiible  to  explain.'' 
If  fo,  on  what  does  your  conftitution  left  ?  If  tho 
abflradl  rights  of  man  will  bear  difcuffion  '  and  ■ 
explanation,  thofe  of  w^oman,  by  a  parity  of 
reafbning,  will  not  fhrink  from  the  feme  tefh  : 
though  a  different  opinion  prevails  in  this  coun- 
try, built  on  the  very  arguments  which  you  ufe 
to  juftify  the  oppreffion  of  woman — prefcrip^ 
tion. 

Confidcr,    I  addrefs  you  as  a  legifiator,  wh?,-*-  ■-: 
thcr,  when  men   contend  for  their  freedom,  and 
to  be  allowed  to  judge  for  themfelves  refpeding 
their  own  happinefs^    it   be  not  inconfiflent  and  • 
unjuil  to  fubjugate   women,    even    though   you 
firmly  believe  that  you  are  afting  in  the  mannei'    ^ 
bell  calculated  to  promote  thein  happinefs  ?  Who   • 
made  man  the  exclufive  judge,  if  woman  partak-e   • 
\vith  him  the  gift  of  rectfon  ?       " 

In  this  ftyle,  argue  tyrants  of  every  denomi-:.    < 
faatiqn^  from   the  weak  king  to  the  weak  father  .. 

of 


X  DEDICATION. 

of  a  family  ;  they  are  all  eager  to  crufli  rcafoii  ^ 
yet  always  afl'ert  that  they  ufurp  its  throne  only 
to  be  ufeful.  Do  you  not  a(5l  a  iimilar  part^ 
when  you  force  all  women,  by  denying  them 
civil  and  political  rights,  to  remain  immured  in 
their  families  groping  in  the  dark  ?  for  furely. 
Sir,  you  will  not  aifert,  that  a  duty  can  be  bind- 
ing which  is  not  founded  on  reafon  ?  If  indeed 
this  be  their  deftina-tion,  ^irguments  may  be 
drawn  from  reafon  :  and  thus  auguftly  fupport- 
ed,  the  more  underftanding  women  acquire,  the 
more  they  will  be  attached  to  their  duty — com- 
prehending it — for  unlefs  they  comprehend  it, 
unlefs  their  morals  be  fixed  on  the  fame  immuta- 
ble principle  as  thofe  of  man,  no  authority  can 
make  them  difcharge  it  in  a  virtuous  manner. 
They  may  be  convenient  flaves,  but  flavery  wiH 
have  its  ccnilant  efFed,  degrading  the  mailer  and 
the  abjev5t  dependent. 

But,  if  women  are  to.  be  excluded,  without 
having  a  voice,  from  a  participation  of  the  natu- 
ral rights  of  mankind,  prove  firft,  to  ward  off 
the  charge  of  injuftice  and  inconfiflency,  that 
they  want  reafon, — elfe  this  flaw  in  your  new 
CONSTITUTION,  the  fir^l:  conditution  founded 
on  reafon,  ^y^Jl  ever  fhew  that  man  mull,  in 
fome  fhape,  adl  like  a  tyrant,  and  tyranny,  in 
whatever  part  of  fociety  it  rears  its  brazen  front, 
will  ever  undermine  morality.  I 


DEDICATION.  xl 

I  have  repeatedly  alTerted,  and  produced  what 
appeared  to  me  irrefragable  arguments  drawn 
from  matters  of  fadt,  to  prove  my  alTertion,  that 
women  cannot,  by  force,  be  confined  to  domef- 
tic  concerns  ;  for  they  will,  however  ignorant, 
intermeddle  with  more  weighty  afi'airs,  neglect- 
ing private  duties  only  to  difturb,  by  cunning 
tricks,  the  orderly  plans  of  reafon  which  rife 
above  their  comprehenfion. 

Befides,  whilft  they  are  only  made  to  acquire 
pcrfohal  aecomplifliments,  men  will  feek  for 
pleafure  in  variety,  and  faithlefs  hufbands  will 
make  faithlefs  wives  ;  fuch  ignorant  beings,  in- 
deed, will  be  very  excufable  when ,  not  taught  to 
refpedt  public  good,  nor  allowed  any  civil  rights, 
they  attempt  to  do  themfelves  juflice  by  retalia- 
tion. 

The  box  of  m.ifchief  thus  opened  in  fociety, 
what  is  to  preferve  private  virtue,  the  only  fecu- 
rity  of  public  freedom  and  univerfal  happinefs  ? 

Let  there  be  then  no  coercion  cfiablificd  in  fo- 
ciety,  and  the  commoq  lav/  of  gravity  prevailing, 
the  fexes  will  fall  into  their  proper  places,  And, 
now  that  more  equitable  laws  are  forming  your 
citizens,  marriage  mav  become  more  lacred  : 
your  young  men  may  chooie  wives  from  motives 
pf  afFeition,  and  your  maid,ens  allow  love  to  root 
out  vanity. 

riie 


?tii  DEDICATION. 

The  father  of  a  family  wiU  not  then  weaken 
bis  conftltLition  anci  debafe  his  fentjments,  by 
vifiting  the  harlot,  nor  forget,  in  obeying  the 
oil  of  appetite,  the  purpofe  for  which  it  was 
implanted.  And,  the  mother  will  not  neglect 
her  children  to  pradife  the  arts  of  coquetry, 
when  fenfe  and  modefty  fcci^re  her  the  friendfhip 
gf  her  hufband. 

But,  till  men  beconie  attentive  to  th^  duty  of 
a  father,  it  is  vain  to  ej^pedt  wpnien  to  fpend 
that  time  in  their  nurfery  which  they,  *  wife  ir^ 
their  generation,'  chaqfe  to,  fpend  at  their  glafs  j 
for  this  e:^ertion  of  cunpjng  ;s  only  an  inllin(ft 
qf  nature  to  enable  them  to  pbtain  indlretlly  a 
little  of  that  power  of  which  they  are  unjuftly 
denied  a  fhare  ;  for,  if  wompn  are  not  permitted 
to  enjoy  legitimate  rights,  they  will  render  both 
men  and  themfelves  yicious^  to  obtain  illicit  pri- 
vileges. 

I  wifli,  Sir,  tQ  fet  fome  inveiligatlons  of  this 
kind  afloat  in  France  ;  and  fliould  they  lead  to  a 
coniirm.atip^  of  my  principks,  when  your  con- 
flitution  is  revifed  the  Pvigh^s  of  Woman  may  be 
refpe'i^ed,  if  it  be  fully  proved  that  reafon  calls 
for  this  refpedt,  and  loudly  demands  justicf 
fur  one  half  of  the  huiTjan  race. 


I  am,   SiR^ 

Your's  rcfnedfu^lv, 


M-   \\\ 


advertisement: 


When  I  began  to  write  this  wotk,  I  divi- 
ded it  into  three  parts,  fuppofing  that  one  volume 
would  contain  a  full  difcufTion  of  the  arguments' 
which  feemed  to  me  to  rife  natiirally  from  a  few 
fimple  principles  -,  but  frefh  illuftrations  occur- 
rihg  as  I  advanced,  I  now  prcfent  only  the  firfii 
part  to  the  public. 

Many  fubjedis,  howeveVy  which  I  have  cur- 
forily  alluded  to,  call  for  particular  inveftigationy 
cfpeeially  the  laws  relative  to  women,  and  the 
coniideration  of  their  peculiar  duties.  Thefe 
will  furnifh  ample  matter  for  a  fecond  volume^ 
which  in  due  time  will  be  piibliflied,  to  elucidate 
fome  of  the  fentiments,  and  complete  many  of 
the  iketches  begun  in  the  firft. 


CONTENtS. 


Pag« 

iN'TROBUCriON  i; 

C  H  A  P.     I. 

I'he  rights  and  involved  duties  of  mankind  con-' 
JJdered  ■   27 

CHAP.     IL 

l^he  prevailing  opinio?!  of  a  fexual  charaEicr 
dtfcu/ed  39 

CHAP.     III. 

l^he  fame  fubjeB  contifiued  71 

CHAP.     IV. 

X)bfervations  on  the  fate  of  degradation  to 
which  woman  is  reduced  by  various  caufes     94 

CHAP.     V. 

Animddveffdns  on  fojjie  of  the  writers  ivho 
have  rendered  women  obJeSls  of  pity,  hor- 
de fing  on  contempt  1,38 

C  H  A  P.     VI. 

T'he  effeoi  which  an  early  ajfociation  of  ideas 
has  upon  the  chara^er  ^03 

CHAP. 


CHAP.     VIL 

Pagfc 

Modcjly, — Comprehenfively  confideredf  and  not 
4s  a  fexual  virtue  213 

CHAP.     VIII. 

Morality  undermined  by  fexual  notions  ef  the 
ztnportance  of  a  good  reputation  230 

C  H  A  P.     IX. 

Of  the  pernicious  effects  which  arife  from  the 
unnatural  difiintlions  efiablifhed  in  fociety  246 


CHAP. 

X. 

Parental  affeclion 

263 

CHAP. 

XL 

Duty  to  patents 

267 

C  H  A  P. 

XIL 

On  national  education 

%j^ 

CHAP. 

XIIL 

Some  infiances  of  the  folly  which  the  ignorahce 

of  women  generates  -,  with  concluding  re- 

feBions  on  the  moral  improvement  that  a 

revolution  in  female  manyiers  may  naturally 

be  expelled  to  produce  313 


I  N  T  R  O  D  U  C  T  I  O  N« 

After  conriderlng  the  hllloric  page,  and 
Tiewing  the  living  world  with  anxious  foliei- 
tude,  the  mod  melancholy  emotions  of  forrov/- 
ful  indignation  have  deprelTed  my  fpirits,  and  I 
have  fighed  when  obliged  to  confefs,  that  either 
nature  has  made  a  great  difference  between  man 
and  man,  or  that  the  civilization  which  has 
hitherto  taken  place  in  the  world  has  been  very 
partial.  I  have  turned  over  various  books  writ- 
ten on  the  fubjedl  of  education,  and  patiently 
obferved  the  condu5:  of  parents  and  the  man- 
agement of  fchocls  ;  but  what  has  been  the  re- 
fait  ? — a  profound  convidlion  that  the  neglected 
education  of  my  fellovz-creatures  is  the  grand 
fource  of  the  mifery  I  deplore  ;  and  that  women, 
in  particular,  are  rendered  weak  and  wretched 
by  a  variety  of  concurring  caufes,  originating 
from  one  hally  concluiion.  The  condu(^  and 
manners  of  women,  in  fa^fl,  evidently  prove  that 
their  minds  are  not  in  a  healthy  ftate  ;  for,  like 
the  flowers  which  are  planted  in  too  rich  a  foil, 
B  ftrength 


i8  INTRODUCTION. 

.  llrength  and  ufcfulnefs  are  facrificed  to  beauty  ^. 
and  the  flaunting  leaves,  after  having  pleafed  a 
faftidious  eye,  fade,  difregarded  on  the  flialk. 
Ion?  befoFiJ  ttie  feafon  when,  they  ou<<ht  60  have 
arrived  at  maturity. — One  caufe  of  this  barren 
blooming  I  attribute  to  a  falfe  fyflem  of  educa- 
tion, gathered  from  the  books  v/ritten  on  this 
iubjedt  by  men  who,  confidering  females  rather 
k§  women  than  human  creatures,  have  been  more 
■aiixious  to  make  them,  alluring  miftrefTes  than 
rational  wives  ;  and  the  understanding  of  the 
*fex  has  been  fo  bubbled  by  this  fpecious  hom- 
age, that  the  civilized  women  of  the  prefent 
'century,  with  a  few  exceptions,  are  only  anxious 
to  infpire  love,  when  they  ought  to  cheriHi  a 
nobler  ambition,  and  bv  their  abilities  and  vir- 
tues  exadt  refpecfi:. 

In  a  treatife,  therefore,  on  female  rights  an^ 
manners,  the  works  whic-h  have  been  particu- 
larly written  for  their  improvement  mufc  not  be 
<)verIooked-  efpecially  when  it  is  averted,  in  di- 
re6l  terms,  that  the  minds  of  women  are  enfee- 
bled by  flilfe  refinement ;  that  the  books  of  in- 
flrudlion,  \^^rittcn  by  men  of  genius>  have  had 
the  fame  tendency  as  more  frivolous  productions ; 
and  that,  in  the  true  fliyle  of  Mahometanifm, 
they  are  only  confidered  as  females,  and  not  as  a 
part  of  the  human  fpccics^  when  improvable  rea- 

fOU: 


INTRODUCTION.  i^ 

hn  is  allowed  to  be  the  dignified  dijflinftion 
which, raifes  men  above  the  brute  creation,  and 
puts  a  natural  fceptre  in  a  feeble  hand. 

Yet,  bccaufe  I  am  a  woman,  I  Would  not  lead 
my  readers  to  fuppofe  that  I  mean  violently  to 
agitate  the  conteiled  queftion  refpecling  the 
equality  or  inferiority  of  the  {ex  ;  but  as  the 
fabject  lies  in  my  way,  and  I  cannot  pafs  it  over 
without  fubjedling  the  main  tendency  of  my 
reafoning  to  mifconftrudion,  I  fhali  flop  a  mo- 
ment to  deliver,  in  a  few  words,  my  opinion. — 
i  In  the  government  of  the  phyfical  world  it  is 
!'  obfervable  tliat  the  female,  in  general,  is  inferi- 
or to  the  male.  The  male  purfues,  the  female 
yields — this  is  the  law  of  nature  j  and  it  does 
not  appear  to  be  fufpended  or  abrogated  in  fa- 
vour of  woman^  This  phyfical  fuperiority  can^ 
hot  be  denied — and  it  is  a  noble  prerogative  ! 
But  not  content  v/ith  this  natural  pre-eminence, 
men  endeavour  to  fink  us  ftill  lower,  merely  to 
render  us  alluring  objects  for  a  moment;  and 
women,  intoxicated  by  the  adoration  which  men, 
under  the  influence  of  their  fenfes,  pay  them, 
^o  'not  feek  to  obtain  a  durable  intereil:  in  their 
hearts,  or  to  become  the  friends  of  the  fellow 
creatures  who  find  amufement  in  their  fociety. 

I  am  aware  of  an  obvious  inference  : — from 
€very  quarter  have  I  heard  exclamations  againfi; 
B  2  mafculine 


20         INTRODUCTION. 

mafculine  women  ;  but  where  are  they  to  he 
found  ?  If  by  this  appellation  men  mean  to  in- 
veigh againfl  their  ardour  in  hunting,  Ihooting, 
and  gaming,  I  fhall  moft  cordially  join  in  the 
cry  ;  but  if  it  be  again  ft  the  imitation  of  manly 
virtues,  or,  more  properly  fpeaking,  the  attain- 
ment of  thofe  talents  and  virtues,  the  exercife  of 
which  ennobles  the  human  chara6ter,  and  which 
liiife  females  in  the  fcale  of  animal  being,  when 
they  are  comprehenfively  termed  mankind  ; — . 
all  thofe  who  view  them  with  a  philofophical 
eye  mull,  I  fhould  think,  wifli  with  me,  that 
they  may  every  day  grow  more  and  more  maf- 
culine. 

This  difcufnon  naturally  divides  the  fubjed. 
I  ihall  firft  confider  women  in  the  grand  light 
of  human  creatures,  who,  in  common  with  men, 
are  placed  on  this  earth  to  unfold  their  faculties; 
and  after'w^rds  I  fhall  more  particularly  point 
out  their  peculiar  defignation-. 

I  wifli  alfo  to  fleer  clear  of  an  error  which 
many  refpedlable  Writers  have  fallen  into  ;  for 
the  inilrudion  which  has  hither  been  addref- 
fed  to  womci^,  has  rather  been  applicable  to 
/aJieSy  if  the  little  indired  advice,  that  is  fcat- 
tcred  through  Sanford  and  Merton,  be  except- 
ed ;  but,  addrefnng  my  fex  in  a  iirmer  tone,  I 
pay  particular   attention  to  thofe  in-  the  middk 

clafs,, 


INTRODUCTION.        ti 

clafs,  becaufc  they  appear  to  be  in  the  mofl:  na- 
tural ftate.  Perhaps  the  feeds  of  falfe  refine- 
ment, immorality,  and  vanity,  have  ever  been 
fhed  by  the  great.  Weak,  artificial  beings,  raif- 
cd  above  the  common  wants  and  affedtions  of 
their  race,  in  a  premature  unnatural  manner,  un- 
dermine the  very  foundation  of  virtue,  and  fpread 
corruption  through  the  whole  mafs  of  focicty  1 
As  a  clafs  of  mankind  they  have  the  flrongefl 
claim  to  pity  ;  the  education  of  the  rich  tends 
to  render  them  vain  and  helplefs,  and  the  un- 
fol-ding  mind  is  not  ftrengthened  by  the  prac- 
tice of  thofe  duties  which  dignify  the  human 
charadter. — They  only  live  to  amufe  themfelves, 
and  by  the  fame  law  which  in  nature  invariably 
produces  certain  efte*5ts,  they  foon  only  afford 
barren  amufement. 

Bat  as  I  purpofe  taking  a  feparate  view  of  the 
different  ranks  of  fociety,  and  of  the  moral  cha- 
rafter  of  women,  in  each,  this  hint  is,  for  the 
prefent,  fufficient  ;  and  I  have  only  alluded  to 
the  fubje^t,  becaufe  it  appears  to  me  to  be  the 
very  eiTence  of  an  introdudtion  to  give  a  curfory 
account  of  the  contents  of  the  work  it  intro- 
duces. 

My  own  fex,   I  hope,   will  excufe  me,   if  I 
treat  them  like  rational  creatures,  inflead  of  Hat- 
B  3  tcring 


S2  INTRODUCTION. 

tering  t\\t\v fafcinating  graces,  and  viewing  them 
as  if  they  were  in  a  ftate  of  perpetual  childhood, 
unable  to  {land  alone.  I  earnefhly  wifh  to  point 
put  in  what  true  dignity  and  human  happinefs 
confifls — I  wifh  to  perfuade  women  to  endea- 
vour to  acquire  ftrength,  both  of  mind  and  body, 
and  to  convince  them  that  the  foft  phrafes,  fuf- 
ceptibility  of  heart,  delicacy  of  fentiment,  and 
jennement  of  tafle,  are  almoft  fynonimous  with 
epithets  of  weaknefs,  and  that  tliofe  beings  who 
are  only  the  objeds  of  pity  and  that  kind  of 
love,  which  has  been  termed  its  filler,  will  foo^i 
become  objed;s  of  contempt. 

DifmifTing  then  thofe  pretty  feminine  phrafes, 
which  the  men  condefcendingly  ufe  to  foften 
our  flavifli  dependence,  and  defpiling  that  weak 
elegancy  of  mind,  exquilite  fenfibility,  and  fweet 
docility  of  manners,  fuppofed  to  be  the  fexual 
charadteriflics  of  the  weaker  velTel,  I  wifh  to 
fhew  that  elegance  is  inferior  to  virtue,  that  the 
firfl  object  of  laudable  ambition  is  to  obtain  a 
chara6ter  as  a  human  being,  regardlefs  of  the 
diilindlion  of  fex  ;  and  that  fecondary  views 
iliould  be  brought  to  this  funp.le  touchllone. 

This    is   a   rough   fketch  of  my  plan  ;  and 
fiiould    I  exprefs  my  convidion  with  the  ener- 
getic emotions  that  I  feel  whenever  I  think  of 
the  fubjedl,    thfe  dictates  of  experience  and  re- 
^'  fled:ion 


INTRODUCTION.  2-1 

fl^vfllon  will  be  felt  by  fome  of  my  readers. 
Animated  by  this  important  objed-,  I  ihall  dif- 
dain  to  cull  my  phrafes  or  polifli  my  ilyle  ; — I 
aim  at  being  iifeful,  and  Sincerity  will  render  me 
iinaffcded  ,  for,  wifhing  rather  to  perfuade  by 
the  force  of  my  arguments,  than  dazzle  by  the 
elegance  of  my  language,  I  fliall  not  waile  my 
time  in  rounding  periods,  nor  in  fabricating  the 
turgid  bombafl  of  artificial  feeUngs,  which, 
coming  from  the  head,  never  reach  the  heart. — ■ 
I  ihall  be  employed  about  things,  not  words  ! 
— and,  anxious  to  render  my  fex  more  refpeda- 
ble  members  of  fociety,  I  ihall  try  to  avoid  that 
flowery  didion  which  has  Aided  from  eifays  into 
novels,  and  from  novels  into  familiar  letters  and 
converfation. 

Thefe  pretty  nothings — thefe  caricatures  of 
the  real  beauty  of  feniibility,  dropping  glibly 
from  the  tongue,  vitiate  the  tafle,  and  create  a 
kind  of  fickly  delicacy  that  turns  away  from 
fimple  unadorned  truth  ;  and  a  deluge  of  falfe 
fentiments  and  overfl:retched  feelings,  flifling 
the  natural  emotions  of  the  heart,  render 
the  domeftic  pleafurcs  infipid,  that  ought  to 
fweeten  theex"&rcife  of  thole  fevere  duties,  which 
educate  a  rational  and  immortal'  being  for  a  no- 
bler field  of  action, 

B4  The 


24         INTRODUCTION. 

The   education  of  women  has,  of  late,  beeii 
more  attended   to  than  formerly  ;  yet  they  are 
fhill  reckoned  a  frivolous  fex,   and   ridiculed  or 
pitied  by  the  writers  who  endeavor  by  fatire  or 
inflrudtion   to    improve  them.     It  is  acknow- 
ledged that  they  fpend  many  of  the  firft  years  o£ 
their  lives  in  acquiring  a  fmattering  of  accorri- 
pli{hments  :  meanwhile  ftrength  of  body  and 
mind  are  facrificed  to  libertine  notions  of  beau- 
ty, to  the   defir^  of  eflablifhing  themfelves, — 
the  only  v/ay  women  can  rife  in  the  world, — by 
marriage.    And  this  clefire  making  mere  animals 
of  them,   when   they  marry  they  adt  as   fuch 
children  m-^y  be  expected  to  adl  : — they  drefs  j 
they  paint,   and   nickname  God's  creatures. — 
Surely    thefe  weak  beings  are  only  fit  for  a  fe- 
raglio  ! — Can  they  govern  a  family,  or  take  care 
of  the  poor  babes  whom  they   bring  into  the 
world  ? 

If  then  it  can  be  fairly  deduced  from  the  pre- 
fent  conduct  of  the  fex,  from  the  prevalent  fond- 
nefs  for  pleafure  which  takes  place  of  ambition 
s?nd  thofe  nobler  pafTions  that  open  and  enlarge 
the  foul  J,  that  the  inftrudtion  which  women 
have  received  has  only  tended,  with  the  con- 
(titution  of  civil  foci^ty,  ,to  render  them  infig- 
nificant  objects  of  defire — m(?re  propagators  of 
fools  ! — if  it  can  be  proved  that   in  aiming  to 

accompUih 


INTRODUCTION.         2$ 

accomplifh  thc-m,  without  cultivating  their  un- 
dcrftandings,  they  are  taken  out  of  their  fphere 
of  duties,  and  made  ridiculous  and  ufelefs  when 
the  fliort-lived  bloom  of  beauty  is  over*,  I  pre- 
fume  that  rational  men  will  excufe  me  for  en- 
deavouring to  perfuade  them  to  become  more 
mafculine  and  refpedcable. 

.  Indeed  the  word  mafculine  is  only  a  bugbear : 
there  is  little  reafon  to  fear  that  women  will  ac- 
quire too  much  courage  or  fortitude  ;  for  their 
apparent  inferiority  with  refped;  to  bodily 
ftrength,  muft  render  them,  in  fome  degree,  de- 
pendent on  men  in  the  various  relations  of  life  ; 
but  why  {liould  it  be  increafed  by  prejudices 
that  give  a  fex  to  virtue,  and  confound  fimple 
truths  with  fenfual  reveries  ? 

Women  are,  in  fad,  fo  much  degraded  by 
jniftaken  notions  of  female  excellence,  that  I  do 
not  mean  to  add  a  paradox  when  I  afTert,  that 
this  artificial  weaknefs  produces  a  propenfity  to 
tyrannize,  and  gives  birth  to  cunning,  the  na- 
tural opponent  of  ftrength,  which  leads  them 
to  play  off  thofe  contemptible  infantile  airs  that 
undermine  efteem  even  whilft  they  excite  de- 
fire.     Do  not   fofter  thefe  prejudices,  and  they 

will 

•  A  lively  writer,  I  cannot  reco1!e£l  his  name,   afks  what  bufineft 
women  luineJ  of  fony  have  to  do  in  the  world  ? 


26  INTRODUCTION. 

will   naturally  fall  into  their  fabordinate,  yet 
refpeftable  ftation,  in  life. 

It  feems  fcarcely  necelTary  to  fay,  that  I  now 
fpeak  of  the  fex  in  general.  Many  individuals 
Iiave  more  fenfe  tlian  their  male  relatives  ;  and, 
as  nothing  preponderates  where  there  is  a  con- 
ftant  ftruggle  for  an  equilibrium,  Vv'ithout  it 
has  naturally  more  gravity,  fome  women  gov- 
ern their  hufbands  without  degrading  them^ 
iblves,  becaufe  intelled  will  always  govern. 


VINDICATION 


OF    T  H  X 


RIGHTS   OF    WOMAN:^ 


THE     RIGHTS     AND     INVOLVED     DUTIES    OF 
MANKIND    CONSIDERED. 

IN  the  prefent  ftate  of  fociety  it  appears  neccf- 
fary  to  go  back  to  firfl  principles  in  fearch  of  the 
mofl:  fimple  truths,  and  to  difpute  with  fome 
prevaihng  prejudice  every  inch  of  ground.  To 
clear  my  way,  I  muft  be  allowed  to  afk  fomc 
plain  queflions,  and  the  anfwers  v/ill  probably 
appear  as  unequivocal  as  the  axioms  on  which 
reafoning  is  built ;  though,  v/hen  entangled  with 
various  motives  of  adion,  they  are  formally  con- 
tradided,  either  by  the  words  orcondudt  of  men. 

In  what  does  man's  pre-eminence  over  the 
brute  creation  Gonfift  ?  The  anfwer  is  as  clear  as 
that  a  half  is  lefs  than  the  whole  ;  in  Reafon. 

What 


aS  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

What  acquirement  exalts  one  being  above  an- 
other ?  Virtue  j  we  fpontaneoufly  reply. 

For  what  purpofe  were  the  paffions  implant- 
ed ?  That  man  by  ftruggling  with  them  might 
attain  a  degree  of  knowledge  denied  to  the  brutes  j 
whilpers  Experience. 

Confequently  the  perfecftion  of  our  nature  and 
capability  of  happinefs,  mull  be  eflimated  by  the 
degree  of  reafon,  virtue,  and  knowledge,  that 
diflinguifh  the  individual,  and  direct  the  laws 
which  bind  fociety  :  and  that  from  the  exercife 
ofrstifon,  knowledge  and  virtue  naturally  flov/, 
is  equally  undeniable,  if  mankind  be  viewed  col- 
lecftively. 

The  rights  and  duties  of  man  thus  limplified, 
it  feems  almoft  impertinent  to  attempt  to  illuf- 
trate  truths  that  appear  fo  incontrovertible  ;  yet 
fuch  deeply  rooted  prejudices  have  clouded  rea- 
fon,  and  fuch  fpurious  qualities  have  aflumed  the 
name  of  virtues,  that  it  is  neceflary  to  purfue  the 
courfe  of  reaibn  as  it  has  been  perplexed  and  in- 
volved in  error,  by  various  adventitious  circum- 
ftances,  comparing  the  fimple  axiom  with  cafual 
deviations. 

Men,  in  general,  feem  to  employ  their  reafon 
to  juftify  prejudices,  which  they  have  imbibed, 
they  cannot  trace  how,  rather  than  to  root  them 
out.  The  mind  mufl  be  ftrong  that  refolutely 
forms  its  own  principles  3  for  a  kind  of  intel- 
lectual cowardice  prevails  which  makes  many  men 
{brink  from  the  talk,  or  only  do  it  by  halves. 
Yet  the  imperfe(ft  conclufions  thus  drawn,  are 
frequently  very  plaulible,  becaufe  they  are  built 
on  partial  experience,  on  juft,  though  narrow, 
views.  Going 


RIGHTS  OP  WOMAN.  29 

Going  back  to  firft  principles,  vice  ikulksy 
with  all  its  native  deformity,  from  clofe  invefli- 
gation  ;  but  a  fet  of  fhallow  reafoners  are  always 
exclaiming  that  thefe  arguments  prove  too  much^ 
and  that  a  meafure  rotten  at  the  core  may  be  ex- 
pedient. Thus  expediency  i^  ccntirmally  con- 
trailed  with  iimple  principles,  till  truth  is  loft  inr 
a  mift  of  words,  virtue,  in  forms,  and  know- 
ledge rendered  a  founding  nothing,  by  tlxe  fpe- 
cious  prejudices  that  affume  its  name. 

That  the  fociety  is  formed  in  the  wifeft  man- 
ner, whofe  conftitution  is  founded  on  the  nature 
of  m^an,  ftrikes,  in  the  abftra<5t,  every  thinking 
being  fo  forcibly,  that  it  looks  like  prefumption: 
to  endeavour  to  bring  forward  proofs  ;  though 
proof  muft  be  brought,  or  the  ftrong  hold  of 
prefcription  will  never  be  forced  by  rcafoa  ;  yet 
to  urge  prefcription  as  an  argument  to  juftify 
the  depriving  men  (or  women)  of  their  natural 
rights,  is  one  of  the  abfurd  fophifms  which  dai- 
ly infult  common  fenfc. 

The  civilization  of  the  bulk  of  the  people  oF 
Europe  is  very  paitial  ;  nay,  it  may  be  made  a 
queftion,  whether  they  have  acquired  any  vir- 
tues in  exchange  for  innocence,,  equivalent  to  the 
mifery  produced  by  the  vices  that  have  beer> 
plalliered  over  uniightly  ignorance,  and  the  free- 
dom which  has  been  bartered  for  i^lendid  llavery. 
The  defire  of  dazzling  by  riches,,  the  mofl  cer- 
tain pre-eminence  that  man  can  obtain,,  theplea- 
furc  of  commanding  flattering  fycophants,  and 
many  other  complicated  low  calculations  of  do- 
ting felf-lovc,  have  all  contributed  to  overwhelm 
tlie  mafs  of  mankind,,  and  make  liberty  a  con- 
venient 


-^•j  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

veni'ent  handle  for  mock  patriotifm.  For  whilft 
r^nk  and  titles  are  held  of  the  utmoft  import- 
ance, before  v/hich  Genius  *'  muft  hide  its  di- 
ipinifhed  head,"  it  is,  with  a  few  exceptions,  very 
unfortunate  for  a  nation  when  a  man  of  abilities, 
v/ithout  rank  or  property,  puflies  himfelf  for- 
ward to  notice. — Alas  !  what  unheard  of  mifery 
have  thoufands  fuffercd  lo  purchafe  a  cardinal's 
hat  for  an  intriguing  obfcure  adventurer,  who 
longed  to  be  ranked  with  princes,  or  lord  it  over 
them  by  feizing  the  triple  crown  ! 

Such,  indeed,  has  been  the  v/retchednefs  that 
has  flowed  from  hereditary  honours,  riches,  and 
monarchy,  that  men  of  lively  fenfibility  have  al- 
moil:  uttered  blafphemy  in  order  to  juflify  the 
difpenfations  of  providence.  Man  has  been  held 
cut  as  independent  of  his  power  who  made  him, 
or  as  a  lawlefs  planet  darting  from  its  orbit  to 
iteal  the  celeftial  fire  of  reafon  ;  and  the  venge- 
ance of  heaven,  lurking  in  the  fubtile  flame,  fuf- 
ficiently  puniflied  his  temerity,  by  introducing 
evil  into  the  v^^orld. 

ImpreflTed  by  this  view  of  the  mifery  and  dif- 
ordcr  which  pervaded  fociety,  and  fatigued  with 
joflling  againlt  artificial  fools,  Roufleau  became 
enamoured  of  folitude,  and,  being  at  the  fame 
time  an  optimift,  he  labours  with  uncommon 
eloquence  to  prove  that  man  was  naturally  a  foli- 
tary  animal.  Mifled  by  his  refpecft  for  the  gocd- 
nefs  of  God,  who  certainly — for  what  man  of 
fenfc  and  feeling  can  doubt  it  ! — gave  life  only 
to  communicate  happinefs,  he  confiders  evil  as 
pofitive,  and  the  v/ork  of  man  ;  not  aware  that 

he 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  ^i 

he  was  exalting  one  attribute  at  the  expenfc  of 
another,  equally   necefFary  to  divine,  perfciflion. 

Reared  on  a  falfe  hypothefis  his  arguments  in 
favour  of  a  Hate  of  nature  are  plaufible,  but  un-* 
found.  I  fay  unfound  ;  for  to  affert  that  a  flats 
of  nature  is  preferable  to  civilization,  in  all  it$ 
poiTible  perfection,  is,  in  other  words,  to  arraign 
fupreme  wifiom  ;  and  the  paradoxical  exclaina-' 
tion,  that  God  has  made  all  things  right,  and 
that  evil  has  been  introduced  by  the  creature, 
whom  he  formed,  knowing  what  he  formed^  is 
as  unphilofophical  as  impious. 

When  that  v/ife  Being  who  created  us  and 
placed  us  here,  faw  the  fair  idea,  he  willed,  by 
allowing  it  to  be  fo,  that  the  pafTions  ihould  un- 
fold our  reafon,  bccaufe  he  could  fee  that  prefent 
evil  would  produce  future  good.  Could  the 
helplefs  creature  whom  he  called  from  nothing 
break  loofe  from  his  providence,  and  boldly  learji 
to  knov/  good  by  pradifrng  evil,  without  his 
permifTion  ?  No. — How  could  that  energetic  ad- 
vocate for  immortality  argue  fo  inconfillently  ? 
Had  mankind  remained  for  ever  in  the  brutal 
flate' of  nature,  which  even  his  magic  pen  cannot 
paint  as  a  frate  in  which  a  fingle  virtue  took 
foot,  it  Would  have  been  clear,  though  not  to 
the  fenfitive  nnrefle(5ling  wanderer,  that  man  was 
born  to  run  the  circle  of  life  and  death,  and  adorn 
God's  garden  for  fome  purpofc  which  could  not 
calily  be  reconciled  with  his  attributes. 

But,  if,  to  crown  the  whole,  there  were  to  be 
rational  creatures  produced,  allowed  to  rife  in  ex- 
cellence by  the  exercife  of  powers  implanted  for 
thit  purpofe  -,  if  benignity  itfelf  thought  fit  to 

call 


11  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

call  into  exiftence  a  creature  above  the  brutes*, 
who  could  think  and  improve  himfelf,  why  fhould 
that  ineftimable  gift,  for  a  gift  it  was,  if  man  was 
fo  created  as  to  have  a  capacity  to  rife  above  the 
flate  in  which  fenfation  produced  brutal  eafe,  be 
called,  in  dired:  terms,  a  curfe  ?  A  curfc  it  mip-ht 
be  reckoned,  if  all  our  exiftence  was  bounded  by 
our  continuance  in  this  world  -,  for  v/hy  fliOuld 
the  gracious  fountain  of  life  give  us  pafiions,  and 
the  power  of  receding,  only  to  imbitter  our  days 
and  infpire  us  with  miftaken  notions  of  dignity  ? 
Why  (hould  he  lead  us  from  love  of  ourfelves  to 
the  fublime  emotions  which  the  difcovery  of  his 
v/ifdom  and  goodnefs  excites,  if  thefe  feelings  were 
not  fet  in  motion  to  improve  our  nature,  of  which 
they  make  a  part-f*,  and  render  us  capable  of  enjoy- 
ing a  more  godlike  portion  of  happinefs  ?  Firmly 
perfuaded  that  no  evil  exifts  in  the  world  that  God 
did  not  defign  to  take  place,  I  build  my  belief  oa 
the  perfection  of  God. 

RoulTeau  exerts  himfelf  to  prove  that  all  was 
right  originally :  a  crowd  of  authors  that  all  is  now 
right :  and  I,  that  all  will  be  right. 

But, 

•  Contrary  to  the  opinion  of  anatomins,  who  srgoe  by  analogy  from 
fhe  fornnation  of  the  teeth,  Itomach,  and  intellines,  Roufleau  will  not  al- 
low a  man  to  be  a  carnivorous  animal.  And,  carried  away  from  na» 
tiire  by  a  love  of  fyftcm,  he  difputes  whether  man  be  a  gregarioiu  ani* 
mal,  though  the  long  and  helplefs  Aale  of  infancy  feems  to  point  him 
out  as  particularly  impelled  to  pair. 

+  Whit  would  you  fay  to  a  mechanic  whom  you  had  defired  to  make 
a  watch  to  point  out  the  hour  of  the  day,  if,  to  (hew  his  ingenuity,  he 
added  wheels  to  make  it  a  repeater,  Sec.  that  perplexed  the  funple  me- 
chinifm  ;  ftiould  he  urge,  to  excufe  himfelf — had  you  not  touched  a 
certain  fpring,  you  would  have  known  nothing  of  the  matter,  and  that 
he  fhoiild  have  amufed  himlelf  by  making  an  experiment  without  doing 
you  any  harm  :  would  you  not  retort  fairly  upon  him,  by  infilling  th:it 
if  he  had  not  added  thofe  necdlefs  wheels  ar.d  fpringi,  the  accident  ccul<i 
not  have  happened  / 


kiGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  ff 

teuf,  true  to  his  firft  pofition,  next  to  a  ftate  of  ^ 
ilature,  Roufleau  celebrates  barbarifm,  and,  apof-^ 
trophizing  the  fhade  of  Fabricius,  he  forgets  tha^^- 
in  conquering  the  world,  the  Romans  never 
dreamed  of  eilablilhing  their  own  liberty  on  a 
firm  balis,  or  of  extending  the  reign  of  virtue. 
Eager  to  fupport  his  fyftem,  he  fligmatizes,  as  vi- 
cious, every  effort  of  genius;  and,  uttering  the 
apotheofis  of  favage  virtues,  he  exalts  thofe  to 
demi-gods,  who  were  fcarcely  human— the  bfu^ 
tal  Spartans,  who,  in  defiance  of  juflice  and  gra-« 
titude,  facrificed,  in  cold  blood,  the  flaves  who' 
had  fliewn  themfelves  men  to  refcue  their  oppref- 
fors. 

Difgufled  with  artificial  niaririers  and  virtuesV' 
the  citizen  of  Geneva,  inftead  of  properly  fifting 
the  fubje(fl,  threw  away  the  wheat  with  the 
chaff>  without  waiting  to  inquire  whether  the 
evils  which  his  ardent  foul  turned  from  indig-' 
nantlyj  were  the  confequence  of  civilization  or 
the  veftiges  of  barbarifm*  He  faw  vice  tramp- 
ling on  virtue,  and  the  femblance  of  good- 
nefs  taking  place  of  the  reality;  he  faw  talents 
bent  by.  power  to  finifter  purpofes,  and  never 
thought  of  tracing  the  gigantic  mifchief  up  to 
arbitrary  power,  up  to  the  hereditary  diflindions 
that  clafh  with  the  mental  fuperiority  that  natu- 
rally raifes  a  man  above  his  fellows.  He  did  not 
perceive  that  regal  power,  in  a  few  generations, 
introduces  idiotifm  into  the  noble  flem,  and  holds 
out  baits  to  render  thoufands  idle  and  vicious. 

Nothing  can  fet  the  regal  character  in  a  more 
contemptible  point  of  view,  than  the  various 
crimes   that  have  elevated  men  to  the  fupreme 

C  dignity. 


^4  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

dignity. — Vile  intrigues,  unnatural  crimes,  ^nd 
every  vice  that  degrades  our  nature,  have  been 
the  fteps  to  this  diftinguifhed  eminence  ;  yet  mil- 
lions of  men  have  fupinely  allowed  the  nerve- 
lefs  limbs  of  the  pollerity  of  fuch-  rapacious 
prowlers  to  reft  quietly  on  tlieir  enfanguined 
thrones*. 

What  but  a  peftilential  vapour  can  hover  over 
fociety  when  its  chief  director  is  only  inftrudled 
in  the  invention  of  crimes,  or  the  ftupid  routine 
of  childifli  ceremonies  ?  Will  men  never  be 
wife  ?■ — w-ill  they  never  ceafe  to  expert  corn  from 
tares,  and  figs  fromthiftles  ? 

It  is  impoflible  for  any  man,  when  the  mcO: 
favourable  circumflances  concur,  to  acquire  fuf- 
ficient  knowledge  and  ftrength  of  mind  to  dif- 
charge  the  duties  of  a  king,  entrufted  with  un- 
controuled  power  -,  how  then  muft  they  be  vio- 
lated when,  his  very  elevation  is  an  infuperable 
bar  to^  tile  attainment  of  either  wifdom  or  vir- 
tue ',  when  all  the  feelings  of  a  man  are  ftifled. 
by  flattery,  and  refle6tion  fliut  out  by  pleafure  ! 
Surely  it  is  madnefs  to  make  the  fate  of  thou- 
fands  depend  on  the  caprice  of  a  weak  fellow 
creature,  whofe  very  flation  fmks  him.  nccejjarily 
below  the  meaneft  of  his  fubjefts  !  But  one  pow- 
er fhould  not  be  thrown  dbvv'n  to  exalt  another — 
for  all  power  intoxicates  weak  man ;  and  its  abufe 
proves,  that  the  more  equality  there  is  eftabiiflicd 
among  men,  the  more  virtue  and  happinefs  will, 
reign  in.  fociety.  But  this,  and  any  fimilar  max- 
im 


*  Conld  tljere  be  a  greater  infuU  offered  to  the  rights  of  man  thnn  th; 
beds  of  juftice  in  France,  when  an  inlant  was  made  the  urgan  af  the  ik- 
t^sllable  Dubois  '■■ 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  -5 

ifh  deduced  from  fimplc  reafon,  raifes  an  outcry— 
the  church  or  the  ftate  is  in  danger,  if  faith  in 
the  wifdom  of  antiquity  is  not  implicit ;  and 
they  who,  roufed  by  the  fight  of  human  calami- 
ty, dare  to  attack  human  authority,  are  reviled  as 
defpifers  of  God,  and  enemies  of  rhan^  Thefe 
are  bitter  calumnies,  yet  they  reached  one  of  the 
bcft  of  men*,  whofe  afhes  ftill  preach  peace,  and 
whofe  memory  demands  a  refpcdtful  paufe,  when 
fubjeds  are  difcufled  that  lay  fo  near  his  heart. 

After  attacking  the  facred  majefly  of  Kings,  I 
fhall  fcarCely  excite  furprife  by  adding  my  firm 
perfuafion  that  every  profeflion,  in  which  great 
fubordination  of  rank  conftitutcs  its  power,  is 
highly  injurious  to  morality. 

A  ftanding  army,  for  infiance,  is  incompatible 
with  freedom  ;  becaufe  fubordination  and  rigour 
are  the  very  fmev/s  of  military  difcipline  ;  and 
defpotifm  is  neceflary  to  give  vigour  to  enter- 
prizes  that  one  will  dire6ls.  A  fpirit  infpired  by 
romantic  notions  of  honour,  a  kind  of  moralitv 
founded  on  the  failiion  of  the  age,  can  only  be 
felt  by  a  few  officers,  whilll:  the  main  body  mufl 
be  moved  by  command,  like  the  waves  of  the 
fea  J  for  the  flrong  wind  of  authority  puflies  the 
crowd  of  fubalterns  forward,  they  fcarcely  know* 
or  care  why,  with  headlong  fury. 

Befides,  nothing  can  be  fo  prejudici-il  to  the  mor- 
als of  the  inhabitants  of  country  towns  as  the  oc- 
caflonal  refidence  of  a  fet  of  idle  fuperficial  young 
men,  whofe  only  occupation  is  gallantry,  and  whofe 
polilhed  manners  render  vice  more  dangerous,  by 
concealing  its  deformity  under  gay  Ornamental 
C  2  drapery. 

-  *  Dr.  Pnce. 


36  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

drapery.  An  air  of  faflilon,  which  is  but  a  badge 
of  llavery,  and  proves  that  the  foul  has  not  a 
ftrong  individual  charadler,  avircs  limple  country 
people  into  an  imitation  of  the  vices,  when  they 
cannot  catch  the  llippery  graces,  of  politcnefs. 
Every  corps  is  a  chain  of  defpots,  who,  fubmit- 
ting  and  tyrannizing  without  exercifing  their 
reafon,  become  dead  weights  of  vice  and  folly  on 
the  community.  A  man  of  rank  or  fortune, 
fure  of  riling  by  interefl,  has  nothing  to  do  but 
to  purfue  fome  extravagant  freak  ;  whilft  the 
needy  geiitlcfnan,  who  is  to  rife,  as  the  phrafc 
turns,  by  his  merit,  becomes  a  fervile  paralitc  or 
vile  pander. 

Sailors,  the  naval  gentlemen,  come  under  the 
fame  defcription,  only  their  vices  alfume  a  differ- 
ent and  a  groffer  caft.  They  are  more  pofitively 
indolent,  when  not  difcharging  the  ceremonials  of 
their  ftationj  whilft  the  infignificant  fluttering  of 
foldiers  may  be  termed  adlive  idlenefs.  More  con- 
fined to  the  fociety  of  men,  the  former  acquire  a 
fondnefs  for  humour  and  mifchievous  tricks ; 
whilfl:  the  latter,  mixing  frequently  with  well- 
bred  women,  catch  a  fentimental  cant. — But  mind 
is  equally  out  of  the  queftion,  whether  they  in- 
dulge the  horfe-laugh,  or  polite  fimper. 

May  I  be  allowed  to  extend  the  comparifon  to 
a  profeffion  where  more  mind  is  certainly  to  be 
found  j  for  the  clergy  have  fuperior  opportunities 
of  impovement,  tho'  fubordination  almoft  equ;illy 
cramps  their  faculties  ?  The  blind  fubmiffion 
impofed  at  college  to  forms  of  belief  ferves  as  a 
novitiate  to  the  curate,  who  mufl  obfequioufly. 
refped:  the  opinion  of  his  re(5tor  or  patron,  if  he 

means 


RIGHts  OF  WOMAN.  37 

iStans  to  rife  in  his  profefTion.  Perhaps  there 
cannot  be  a  more  forcible  contrafl  than  between 
the  fervile  dependent  gait  of  a  poor  curate  and 
the  courtly  mien  of  a  bifhop.  And  the  relpe(5l 
and  contempt  they  infpire  render  the  difcharge  of 
their  feparate  fundiions  equally  ufelefs. 

It  is  of  great  importance  to  obferve  that  the 
character  of  every  man  is,  in  fome  degree,  formed 
by  his  profefTion.  A  man  of  fenfe  may  only  have 
a  dft  of  countenance  that  wears  oft  as  you  trace 
his  individuality,  v^'hilfl  the  v^eak,  common  man 
has  fcarcely  ever  any  characfler,  but  what  belongs 
to  the  body  ;  at  leafl,  all  his  opinions  have  been 
fo  fteeped  in  the  vat  confecrated  by  authority, 
that  the  faint  fpirit  which  the  grape  of  his  own 
vine  yields  cannot  be  diftinguiflied. 
*  ^'Society,  therefore,  as  it  becomes  more  enlight- 
ened, fhould  be  very  careful  not  to  eftablifh  bod-- 
ies  of  men  who  mufl  neceflarily  be  made  foolish 
or  vicious  by  the  very  conftitution  of  their  profef- 
fion. 

In  the  infancy  of  fociety,  when  men  were  juil: 
emerging  out  of  barbarifm,  chiefs  and  priefts, 
touching  the  moll:  powerful  fprings  of  favage 
condu6t,  hope  and  fear,  mull  have  had  unbounded 
fway.  An  ariftocracy,  of  courfe,  is  naturally  the 
firft  form  of  government.  But,  clgfhing  inter- 
efts  foon  lofing  their  equipoife,  a  monarchy  and 
hierarchy  break  out  of  the  confufion  of  ambi- 
tious ftruggles,  and  the  foundation  of  both  is  fe- 
cured  by  feudal  tenures.  This  appears  to  be  the 
origin  of  monarchical  and  pricftly  power,  and  the 
dawn  of  civilization .  But  fuch  combuftible  ma- 
terials cannot  long  be  pent  up  -,  and,  getting 
C  3  ven^ 


,38  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

vent  in  foreign  wars  and  inteiline  infurredlious 
the  people  acquire  fomc  power  in  the  tumult, 
which  obliges  their  rulers  to  glofs  over  their  op- 
preflion  with  a  fliew  of  right.  Thus,  as  wars, 
agriculture,  commerce,  and  literature,  expand  the 
mind,  defpots  are  compelled,  to  make  covert  cor- 
ruption hold  faft:  the  power  which  was  formerly 
fnatched  by  open  force*.  And  this  baneful  lurk- 
ing gangrene  is  moft  quickly  fpread  by  luxury  and 
fuperftition,  the  fure  dregs  of  ambition.  The 
indolent  puppet  of  a  court  firfl  becomes  a  luxu- 
rious monfter,  or  faflidious  fenfualift,  and  then 
makes  the  contagion  which  his  unnatural  ftate 
fpread,  the  infbrument  of  tyranny. 

It  is  the  peftiferous  purple  which  renders  the 
progrefs  of  civilization  a  curfe,  and  warps  the 
underitanding,  till  men  of  fenfibility  doubt  whe- 
ther the  expanfion  of  intellecSl  produces  a  greater 
portion  of  happinefs  or  mifery.  But  the  nature 
of  the  poifon  points  out  the  antidote  j  and  had 
Roufleau  mounted  one  ftep  higher  in  his  invefti- 
gation,  or  could  his  eye  have  pierced  through  the 
foggy  atmofphere,  which  he  almofl  difdained  to 
breathe,  his  adtive  mind  would  have  darted  for- 
v/ard  to  contemplate  the  perfection  of  man  in  the 
eftablifhment  of  true  civilization,  inftead  of  tak- 
ing his  ferocious  flight  back  to  the  night  of  fen- 
fual  iornorance. 

•  NIen  of  abilir'es  fcntter  feeds  that  grow  up  and  hsve  a  great  influ- 
ence on  the  forming  ojjinioii  ;  anJ  when  once  the  public  opinion  pre- 
ponderates, through  the  exeiuon  of  reafon,  ibe  ovcrthiow  of  arbitrary 
powTCi  is  not  very  diftan? 


CHAP, 


HIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  ^^ 


CHAP.       11. 

THE      PREVAILING     OPINION    OF    A    SEXUAL 
CHARACTER     DISCUSSED. 

J.  O  account  for,  and  excufe  the  tyranny  of 
irian,  many  ingenious  arguments  have  been 
brought  forv/ard  to  prove,  that  the  two  fexes,  in 
the  acquirement  of  virtue,  ought  to  aim  at  at- 
taining a  very  different  charadter  :  or,  to  fpeak 
explicitly,  women  are  not  allowed  to  have  fufH- 
cient  ftrength  of  mind  to  acquire  what  really  de- 
ierves  the  name  of  virtue.  Yet  it  fhould  feem, 
allowing  them  to -have  fouls,  that  there  is  but 
one  way  appointed  by  Providence  to  lead  man^ 
kind  to  either  virtue  or  happinefs. 

If  then  women  are  not  a  fwarm  of  ephemeron 
triflers,  why  fhould  -they  be  kept  in  ignorance 
under  the  fpecious  name  of  innocence  ?  Men 
complain,  and  with  reafon,  of  the  follies  and 
caprices  of  our  fex,  when  they  do  not  keenly 
fatirize  our  headilrong  paffions  and  groveling  vi- 
ces. Behold,  I  fliould  anfwer,  the  natural  efFedl  of 
ignorance  !  The  mind  will  ever  be  unflable  that 
has  only  prejudices  to  reft  on,  and  the  current  will 
run  with  deftru(ftive  fury  when  there  are  no  bar- 
riers to  break  its  force.  Women  are  told  from 
their  infancy,  and  taught  by  the  example  of  their 
mothers,  that  a  little  knowledge  of  human  weak- 
uefs,  juftly  termed  cunning,  foftnefs  of  temper, 
cutward  obedience,  and  a  fcrupulous  attention 
C  4  to 


JO  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

to  a  puerile  kind  of  propriety,  will  obtain  for 
them  the  protedlion  of  man  -,  and  fliould  they  be 
beautiful,  every  thing  elfe  is  needlcfs,  for,  atleaft, 
twenty  years  of  their  lives. 

Thus  Milton  defcribes  our  firfl  frail  mother ; 
though  when  he  tells  us  that  women  are  formed 
for  foftnefs  and  fweet  attraftive  grace,  I  cannot 
comprehend  his  meaning,  unlefs,  in  the  true 
Mahometan  ftrain,  he  meant  to  deprive  us  of 
fouls,  and  infmuate  that  we  were  beings  only  de- 
signed by  fweet  attradtive  grace,  and  docije  blind 
obedience,  to  gratify  the  fenfes  of  man  when  he 
can  no  Jongerfoar  on  the  wing  of  contemplation. 

How  grossly  do  they  infult  us  who  thus  ad- 
yile  us  only  to  render  ourfclves  gentle,  domeftic 
brutes  !  For  inftance,  the  winning  foftnefs  fo 
warmly,  and  frequently,  recommended,  that  gov- 
erns by  obeying.  What  childish  expreffions,  and 
how  infignificant  is  the  being — can  it  be  an  im- 
piprtal  one  ?  who  will  condefcend  to  govern  by 
fuch  fmifter  methods  !  '  Certainly,  fays  Lord  Ba- 
con, *  man  is  of  kin  to  the  beafls  by  his  body  ; 
f  and  if  he  be  not  of  kin  to  God  by  his  fpirit,  he 
*  is  a  bafe  and  ignoble  creature  !'  Men,  indeed, 
appear  to  me  to  a(5t  in  a  very  unphilofophical 
manner  when  they  try  to  fecure  the  good  condud: 
pf  women  by  attempting  to  keep  them  always,  in 
a  ftate  of  childhood.  RoufTeau  was  more  ^on- 
fiftent  when  he  wifhed  to  fbop  the  prpgrefs  of 
reafon  in  both  fexes,  for  if  men  eat  of  the  tree  of 
knowledge,  women  will  come  in  for  a  tafte  ;  but, 
from  the  imperfe6l  cultivation  which  their  un- 
derftandings  now  receive,  they  only  attain  a 
knowledge  of  evil. 

Children, 


c 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  41 

Children,  I  grant,  fliould  be  innocent ;  but 
when  the  epithet  is  applied  to  men,  or  women, 
it  is  but  a  civil  term  for  weaknels.  For  if  it  be 
allowed  that  women  were  deflined  by  Provi- 
dence to  acquire  human  virtues,  and  by  the  ex- 
crcife  of  their  underftanding,  that  ftabjHty  of 
character  which  is  the  firmcjfl  ground  to  reft  our 
future  hopes  upon,  they  muft  be  permitted  to 
turn  to  the  fountain  of  light,  and  not  forced  to 
fliape  their  courfe  by  the  twinkling  of  a  mere 
fatellite.  Milton,  I  grant,  was  of  a  very  differ- 
ent opinion  ;  for  he  only  bends  to  the  indefeafi- 
ble  right  of  beauty,  though,  it  would  be  difficult 
to  render  two  paffages  which  I  now  mean  to  con- 
traft,  confiftent.  But  into  fmiilar  inconfiilencies 
are  great  men  often  led  by  their  fenfes. 

*  To  whom  thus  Eve  with  perfiH  beauty  adorn'd* 

*  My  Author  and  Difpofer,  what  thou  bidft 

*  Unargued  I  obey  ;   fo  God  ordains  j 

*  God  is  thy  la-j:,  thou  mine  :  to  know  no  more 

*  Is  Woman's  bappiejl  knowledge  and  her  praifeJ' 

Thefe  arc  exa(5tly  the  arguments  that  I  have 
ufed  to  children  ;  but  I  have  added,  your  reafon 
is  now  gaining  ftrength,  and,  till  it  arrives  at 
fome  degree  of  maturity,  you  muft  look  up  to 
me  for  advice — then  you  ought  to  think,  and  on- 
ly rely  on  God. 

Yet  in  the  following  lines  Milton  feems  to 
coincide  v/ith  me ;  when  he  makes  Adam  thus 
expoftulate  with  his  Maker. 

*  Haft  thoii  not  made  me  here  thy  fuljflifiir, 

*  And  thefe  inferior  fir  beneath  ms  f;t  ? 

^  Amoag  unequals  what  fociety 

«  Can 


4^2  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

'  Can  fort,  wfw:  harmony  or  true  delight  t 

*  Which  mult  be  mutual,  in  proportion  due 
'  *  Giv'tt  and  received  j  but  in  d'tff-arlty 

*  The  one  intenfe,  the  ether  ftiJi  remifs 

*  Cannot  well  fuit  with  either,  but  foon  prove 

*  Tedious  alike  ;  oi  fello-u-Jhip  I  fpeak. 
<  Such  as  I  leek,  At  to  participaie 

*  All  rational  deiight — 

In  treating,  therefore,  of  the  manners  of  wo-r 
men,  let  us,  difregarding  fenilial  arguments,  trac^ 
■what  we  fhould  endeavour  to  make  them  in  or-^ 
der  to.  cp-operate,  if  the  expreffion  be  not  too 
told,  \^ith  the  fupreme  Being. 

By  individual  education,  I  mean,  for  the  (qi\(q 
of  the,  word  is  not  precifely  defined,  fuch  an  at- 
tention to  a  child  as  will  (lowly  fharpen  the  fenf-^ 
cs,  form  the  temper,  regulate  the  pafHons,  as 
they  begin  to  ferment,  and  fet  the  underflanding 
to  work  before  the  body  arrives  at  maturity  ;  fo 
that  the  man  may  only  have  to  proceed,  not  tq 
begin,  the  important  tafk  of  learning  to  think 
and  reafon. 

To  prevent  any  mifconftrudtion,  I  muft  add, 
that  I  do  not  believe  that  a  private  education  can 
work   the  wonders  which  fome  fanpuine  writers 

O 

have  attributed  to  it.  Men  and  women  mufl  be 
educated,  in  a  great  degree,  by  the  opinions  and 
manners  of  the  fociety  they  live  in.  In  every 
age  there  has  been  a  ftream  of  popular  opinion 
that  has  carried  all  before  it,  and  given  a  family 
charader,  as  it  were,  to  the  century.  It  may 
then  fairly  be  inferred,  that,  till  fociety  be  dif- 
ferently conflituted,  much  cannot  be  expeded 
from   education.     It  is,    however,   futhcient  for 

my 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  43 

my  prefent  purpofe  to  aflert,  that  whatever  .ef- 
fedt  circumftances  have  on  the  abilitieG,  every  bcr 
ing  may  become  virtuous  by  the,  exercife  of  its 
own  reafon  ;  for  if  but  one  l^eing  was  Cx^eated 
with  vicious  inclinations,  that  is  pofitively  bad, 
what  can  fave  us  from  atheifm  ?  or  if  we  wor- 
fhip  a  God,  is  not  that  God  a  devil  ? 

Confequently,  the  moll:  perfedt  education,  iij 
my  opinion,  is  fuch  'an  exercife  of  the-under-r 
(landing  as  is  beft  calculated  to  flrengthen  the 
body  and  form  the  heart.  Or,  in  other  words, 
to  enable  the  individual  to  attain  fuch  habits  of 
virtue  as  will  render  it  independent.  In  fad,  it 
is  a  farce  to  call  any  being  virtuous  whofe  vir- 
tues do  not  refult  from  the  exercife  of  its  own 
reafon.  This  was  Rouffeau's  opinion  refpedting 
men  :  I  extend  it  to  women,  and  confidently  af- 
fert  that  they  have  been  drav/n  out  of  their 
fphere  by  falfe  refinement,  and  not  by  an  endea- 
vour to  acquire  mafculine  qualities.  Still  the 
regal  homage  which  they  receive  is  fo  intoxicate 
inor  that  till  the  manners  of  the  times  are  chano-- 
ed,  and  formed  on  more  reafonable  principles,  it 
may  be  impoffible  to  convince  them  that  the  il- 
legitimate power  which  they  obtain,  by  degrad- 
ing themfelves,  is  a  curfe,  and  that  they  mui> 
return  to  nature  and  equality,  if  they  wifli  to  fc- 
cure  the  placid  fatisfadion  that  unfophifcicated 
aiFedions  impart.  But  for  this  epoch  vve  rauii; 
wait — wait,  perhaps,  till  kings  and  nobles,  en- 
lightened by  reafon,  and,  preferring  the  real  dig- 
nity of  man  to  childilh  ftate,  throw  off  their 
gaudy  hereditary  trappings  :  and  if  then  v/omen 
do  not  refign  the  arbitrary  power   of  beauty — 

they 


44  VINDICATION  GF  THE 

they  will  prove  that  they  have  lefs   mind  than 
man. 

'■-  I  rtiay  be  accufed  of  arrogance;  ftill  I  miifl 
deckre,  what  I  firmly  believe,  that  all  the  writ- 
ers v/ho  have  written  on  the  fubje6l  of  female 
education  and  manners,  from  Rouileau  to  Dr. 
Gregory-,  have  contributed  to  render  women 
iftofe  artificial,  weak  characters,  than  they  would 
©therwife  have  been ;  and,  confequently,  more 
ufelsft  members  of  foe iety,  I  might  have  expref- 
/ed  this  eorlvi(9:ion  in  a  lower  key  ;  but  I  am 
afraid  it  would  have  been  the  whine  of  affei![Va- 
Tion,  and  not  the  faithful  expreffion  of  my  feel- 
ings ;  of  the  clear  refult,  which  experience  and 
'refle(ftion  have  led  me  to  draw.  When  I  come 
to  that  divifion  of  the  fubjecfl:,  I  ihall  advert  to 
the  pafipges  that  I  more  particularly  difapprove 
of,  m  the  works  of  the  authors  I  have  juft  allud- 
ed to  ;  but  it  is  firft  neccfiary  to  obferve,  that 
my  obje(5lion  extends  to  the  whole  purport  of 
thofe  books,  which  tend,  in  my  opinion,  to  de- 
grade one  half  of  the  human  fpecies,  and  render 
women  pleafing  at  the  expenfe  of  every  folid 
virtue. 

Though,  to  rcafon  on  Rouffeau's  groimd,  if 
man  did  attain  a  degree  of  perfe6lion  of  mind 
when  his  body  arrived  at  maturity,  it  might  be 
proper,  in  order  to  make  a  man  and  his  wife  one^ 
that  flie  liiould  rely  entirely  on  his  underfland- 
ing  ;  and  the  graceful  ivy,  clafping  the  oak  that 
fupported  it,  would  form  a  whole  in  which 
flrength  and  beauty  would  be  equally  confpicu- 
ous.  But,  alas  !  hufbands,  as  well  as  their  help- 
mates, are   often  only  overgrown  children  ;  nay, 

thanks 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  4^ 

thanks  to  early  debauchery,  fcarccly  men  in  their 
outward  form — and  if  the  blind  lead  the  blind, 
one  need  not  come  from  heaven  to  tell  us  the 
confequencc. 

Many  are  the  caufes  that,  in  the  prefent  cor- 
rupt ftate  of  fociety,  contribute  to  enllave  women 
by  cramping  their  underftandings  and  fliarpenin^ 
their  fenfes.  One,  perhaps,  that  filently  does 
more  milchief  than  all  the  reft,  is  their  difre- 
gard  of  order. 

To  do  every  thing  in  an  orderly  manner,  is  a 
mofl  important  precept,  which  women,  who, 
generally  fpeaking,  receive  only  a  diforderly  kind 
of  education,  feldom  attend  to  with  that  degree 
of  exa^tnefs,  that  men,  who  from  their  infancy 
are  broken  into  method,  obferve.  This  negli- 
gent kind  of  guefs-work,  for  what  other  epithet 
can  be  ufed  to  point  out  the  random  exertions  of 
a  fort  of  inflindtive  common  fenfe,  never  brought 
to  the  teft  of  reafon  ?  prevents  their  generalizing 
matters  of  fa6l — fo  they  do  to-day,  what  they 
did  yefterday,  merely  bccaufe  they  did  it  yefter- 
day. 

This  contempt  of  the  underflanding  in  early 
life  has  more  baneful  confequences  than  is  com- 
monly fuppofed ;  for  the  little  knowledge  which 
\vomen  of  ftrong  minds  attain,  is,  from  various 
circumftances,  of  a  more  defultory  kind  than  the 
knowledge  of  men,  and  it  is  acquired  more  by 
flieer  obfervations  on  real  life,  than  from  compar- 
ing what  has  been  individually  obferved  with 
the  rcfults  of  experience  generalized  by  fpecula- 
tion.  Led  by  their  dependent  fituation  and  do- 
meftic  employments  more  into  fociety^  what  they . 

ieara 


46  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

learn  is  rather  by  fnatches ;  and  as  learning  is 
with  them,  in  general,  only  a  fecondary  thing, 
they  do  not  purliie  any  one  branch  with  that 
perl'evering  ardour  neceliary  to  give  vigour  to  the 
faculties,  and  clearncfs  to  the  judgment.  In 
the  prefent  ftate  of  fociety,  a  little  learning  is  re- 
quired to  fupport  the  character  of  a  gentleman  ; 
and  boys  are  obliged  to  fubmit  to  a  few  years  of 
difcipline.  But  in  the  education  of  women,  the 
cultivation  of  the  underftanding  is  always  fubor- 
dinate  to  the  acquirement  of  feme  corporeal  ac- 
complifliment ;  even  while  enervated  by  confine- 
ment and  falfe  notions  of  modefty,  the  body  is 
prevented  from  attaining  that  grace  and  beauty 
which  relaxed  half-formed  limbs  never  exhibit. 
Befides,  in  youth  their  faculties  are  not  brought 
forward  by  emulation ;  and  having  no  ferious 
fcientific  (tudy,  if  they  have  natural  fagacity  it  is 
turned  too  foon  on  life  and  manners.  They  dwell 
on  effevfts,  and  modifications,  without  tracing 
them  back  to  caufes  ;  and  complicated  rules  to 
adjufi:  behaviour,  are  a  weak  fubflitute  for  fim- 
ple  principles. 

As  a  proof  that  education  gives  this  appear- 
ance of  weaknefs  to  females,  we  may  inftance 
the  example  of  military  men,  who  are,  like  them, 
fent  into  the  world  before  their  minds  have  been 
flored  with  knowledge  or  fortified  by  principles. 
The  confequences  are  fimilar  ;  foldiers  acquire 
a  little  fuperficial  knowledge,  fnatched  from  the 
muddy  current  of  converfation,and,  from  conti- 
nually mixing  with  fociety,  they  gain,  what  is 
termed  a  knowledge  of  the  world  j  and  this  ac- 
quaintance with  manners  and  cuftoms  has  fre- 
quently 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  47 

quently  been  confounded  v/ith  a  knowledge  o£ 
the  human  heart.  But  can  the  crude  fruit  of  cafual 
obfervation,  never  brought  to  the  te(k  of  judg- 
ment, formed  by  comparing  fpeculation  and  ex- 
perience, deferve  fuch  a  diil;in6tion  ?  Soldiers,  as- 
well  as  women,  praftife  the  minor  virtues  with 
punftilious  politenefs.  Where  is  then  the  fexu- 
al  difTerence,  when  the  education  has  been  the 
fame?  All  the  difference  that  I  can  difcern,  arifes 
from  the  fuperior  advantage  of  liberty,  which  en- 
ables the  former  to  fee  more  of  life. 

It  is  wandering  from  my  prefent  fubjedl,.  per- 
haps, to  iiiake  a.  political  remark  >  but,  as  it  was 
produced  naturally  by  the  train  of  my  refled;ions,. 
i  fhall  not  pafs  it  filently  over. 

Standing  armies  can  never  confifl  of  refolute, 
robull  men  ;  they  may  be  well  difciplined  m.a- 
chines,  but  they  will  feldom  contain  men  under  the- 
influence  of  ftrong  paffion-s,or  with  very  vigorous 
faculties.  And  as  for  any  depth  of  underfland- 
ing,  I  will  venture  to  affirm,  that  it  is  as  rarelv 
to  be  found  in  the  army  as  amongft  women  ,  and 
the  caufe,  I  maintain,  i-s  the  lame.  It  may  be 
further  obferved,.  that  officers  ai-e  alib  particularly 
attentive  to  their  perfons,,  fond  of  dancing,  crowd- 
ed rooms,  adventures,  and  ridicule*.  Like  the 
fair  fcx,  the  buliaefs  of  their  lives  is  gal-iantry. — - 
They  were  taught  to^  pleafe,  and  they  only  live 
to  pleafe.  Yet  they  do  not  lofe  their  rank  i-n  the 
diftindtion  of  fexes,  for  they  are  ftill  reckoned 
fuperior  to  women,    though  in  what  their  fupc- 

ricrity 

•  Why  fhould  women  be  cenftKed  with  petnlent  arriinony,  bccaiif? 
llvey  fecm  to  have  a  paiTion  for  a  f'c:irlet  coat  f  Hn*  not  edxicaiion  placed 
tlsin  more  on  a  Uvel  with  PjUiert  than  any  otli«r  dafe  of  meo  ? 


4S  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

riorlty  confifts,  beyond  what  I  have  jufl  men- 
tioned, it  is  difficult  to  difcover. 

The  great  misfortune  is  this,  that  they  both 
acquire  manners  before  morals,  and  a  knowledge 
of  life  before  they  have,  from  refled:ion,  any  ac- 
quaintance with  the  grand  ideal  outline  of  hu- 
man nature.  The  confequence  is  natural ;  fatif- 
iied  with  common  nature,  they  become  a  prey 
to  prejudices,  and  taking  all  their  opinions  on 
credit,  they  blindly  fubmit  to  authority.  So 
that,  if  they  have  any  fenfe,  it  is  a  kind  of  in- 
ftind:ive  glance,  that  catches  proportions,  and  de- 
cides with  refpe6l  to  manners  ;  but  fails  when 
arguments  are  to  be  purfued  below  the  furface, 
or  opinions  analyzed. 

May  not  the  fame  remark  be  applied  to  wo- 
men ?  Nay,  the  argument  may  be  carried  ftill 
further,  for  they  are  both  thrown  out  of  a  ufe- 
ful  flation  by  the  unnatural  diftindions  eftab- 
lilhed  in  civilized  life.  Riches  and  hereditary 
honours  have  made  cyphers  of  women  to  give 
confequence  to  the  numerical  figure  j  and  idle- 
nefs  has  produced  a  mixture  of  gallantry  and  def- 
potifm  into  fociety,  which  leads  the  very  men 
who  are  the  {laves  of  their  miftreffes  to  tyrannize 
over  their  fifters,  wives,  and  daughters.  This 
is  only  keeping  them  in  rank  and  file,  it  is  true. 
Strengthen  the  female  mind  by  enlarging  it,  and 
there  will  be  an  end  to  blind  obedience  ;  but,  as 
blind  obedience  is  ever  fought  for  by  power,  ty- 
rants and  fenfualifts  are  in  the  right  when  they 
endeavour  to  keep  women  in  the  dark,  becaufe 
the  former  only  want  flaves,  and  the  latter  a 
play-thing.     The  f^nfualift,  indeed,  has  been  the 

moft 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  49 

inoft  dangerous  of  tyrants,  and  women  have  been 
duped  by  their  lovers,  as  princes  by  their  minis- 
ters, whilft  dreaming  that  they  reigned  over 
them. 

I  now  principally  allude  to  Roufleau,  for  his 
charadler  of  Sophia  is,  undoubtedly,  a  captivating 
one,  though  it  appears  to  me  grofsly  unnatural  -, 
however,  it   is   not  the   fuperftrufture^  but  the 
foundation  of  her  chara(^er,    the  principles    on 
which  her  education  was  built,    that    I  mean  to 
attack  ;  nay,  warmly  as    I  admire   the  genius  of 
that  able   v/riter,  whofe  opinions   I   fhall   often 
have  occafion    to  cite,  indignation  always   takes 
place  of  admiration,  and  the  rigid  frown  of  in- 
fulted  virtue   effaces  the   fmile  of  complacency, 
which  his   eloquent  periods  are  wont  to   raife^ 
when   I    read  his  voluptuous  reveries;     Is   this 
the  man,  who,    in   his  ardour  for  virtue,  would 
banifh  all  the  foft  arts  of  peace,  and  almoft  car- 
ry us  back  to    Spartan   difcipline  ?  Is    this   the 
man  who  delights  to  paint  the  ufeful  jftruggles  of 
pafTion,    the  triumphs   of  good  difpohtion,  and 
the   heroic  flights  which  carry  the  glowing  foul 
out  of  itfelf  ? — How  are  thefe  mighty  fentiments 
lowered  when  he  defcribes  the  pretty  foot  and  en- 
ticing airs  of  his   little  favourite  !  But,    for  the 
prefent  I  wave  the  fubje(fl,  and,   inflead   of  fe- 
verely  reprehending  the  traniient  effulions  of  over- 
weening lenfibility,  I  jfhall  only  obferve,  that  who- 
ever has  caft  a  benevolent  eye  on   fociety,  muft 
often  have  been  gratified  by  the  light  of  humble 
mutual   love,    not  dignified  by    fentiment,    nor 
ftrengthened  by  a  union  in  intelled:ual  purfuits. 
The  domedic  trifles  of  the  day  have  afforded  mat- 
D  ter 


]j6  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

ter  for  cheerful  converfe,  and  innocent  carefTes  havci 
foftcned  toils  which  did  not  require  great  e^ercife 
6f  mind  or  ftretch  of  thought  :  yet,  has  not  the 
fight  of  this  moderate  felicity  excited  more  ten- 
dernefs  than  refpedt  ?  An  emotion  fimilar  to 
what  we  feel  when  children  are  playing,  or  ani- 
mals fporting*,  whilft  the  contemplation  of  the 
noble  ftruggles  of  fuffering  merit  has  railed  ad- 
miration, and  carried  our  thoughts  to  that  world 
where  feniation  will  give  place  to  renfon. 

Women  are,  therefore,  to  be  confidered  either 
as  moral  beings,  or  fo  Aveak  that  they  muft  be 
entirely  fubjed:ed  to  thefuperior  faculties  of  men. 

Let  us  examine  this  queftron.  RoufTeau  de- 
clares that  a  woman  fhould  never,  for  a  moment, 
feel  herfeif  independent,  that  llie  fliould  be  gov- 
erned by  fear  to  exercifeher  n^fura/cunn'mgy  and 
made  a  coquetilli  Have  in  order  ta  render  her  a 
more  alluring  object  of  ddire,  ^/iveeter  compan- 
ion to  mart,  whenever  he  choofes  to  relax  him- 
feif.  He' carries  the  arguments,  which  he  pre- 
tends to  draw  from  the  indications  of  nature,  fcill 
further,  and  infmuates  that  truth  and  fortitude, 
the  corner  flones  of  all  human  virtue,  {hould  be 
cultivated  with  certain  reflriclions,  becaufe,  with 
tefoecft  to  the  female  character,  obedience  is  the 
grand  leflbn  which  ought  to  be  imprefled  with 
unrelenting  rigour.  What 

*  Similar  fetiings  has  Milton's  plesfing  pi<Sli3re  of  paradifijcal  happi- 
nefs  ever  raifed  in  my  mind  ;  yet,  inrtead  of  envying  the  lovely  pair,  I 
have,  with  confcious  dignity,  or  Satanic  pritle,  turned  to  hell  for  fublim- 
cr  obje6ls.  In  the  lame  (lyle,  when  viewing  fome  noble  momiitient  of 
human  ait,  I  have  traced  the  emanation  of  the  Deity  in  the  order  I  ad- 
mired, till,  del'cending  from  th'at  giddy  heifjit,  I  ha\e  canght  nfiyfllc* 
coniemplaiing  the  grandelt  of  a}l  hiunnn  fighf?  ;-^fcr  f.iniy  <]nickiy 
placed,  in  fome  folltary  rccef?,  an  outcaft  cf  fortune,  lil'irg  fupirior  •.«» 
|iafri(Hi  and  difccntent. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  51 

What  nonfenfe  !  when  will  a  great  man  arife 
with  iufficient  flrength  of  mind  to  puff  away  the 
fumes  which  pride  and  fenfuality  have  thus^ 
fpread  over  the  fubjedt  !  If  women  are  by  nature 
inferior  to  men,  their  virtues  murt:  be  the  lame 
in  quality,  if  not  in  degree,  or  virtue  is  a  relative 
idea  ;  confequently,  their  condud:  fhould  be 
founded  on  the  fame  principleSj  and  have  the 
fame  aim. 

Connected  with  man  as  daughters,  wives,  and 
mothers,  their  moral  charadier  may  be  eflimated 
by  their  manner  of  fulfilling  thofe  fimple  du- 
ties ;  but  the  end,  the  grand  end  of  their  exer- 
tions rtiould  be  to  unfold  their  own  faculties  and 
acquire  the  dignity  of  confcious  virtue.  They 
may  try  to  render  their  road  pleafant  3  but  ouglit 
never  to  forget,  in  common  with  man,  that  life 
yields  not  the  felicity  which  can  fatisfy  an  im- 
mortal faul.  I  do  not  mean  to  infinuate,  that 
either  fex  fliould  be  fo  lofl  in  abflrad  refiecftions 
or  diftant  views,  as  to  forget  the  affecftions  and 
duties  that  lie  before  them,  and  are,  in  truth, 
the  means  appointed  to  produce  the  fruit  of 
life;  on  the  contrary,  I  would  warmly  recom- 
mend them,  even  while  I  affert,  that  they  afford 
moil  fatlsfadtion  when  they  are  confidered  in 
their  true  fubordinate  light. 

Probably  the  prevailing  opinion,  that  Vi^oman 
was  created  for  man,  may  have  taken  its  riic 
from  Mofes's  poetical  fcory  ;  "^jO-ly  as  very  few, 
it  is  prefumed,  who  have  bellowed  any  ferioua 
thought  on  the  fubjed",  ever  fuppofed  that  Eve 
was,  literally  fpeaking,  one  of  Adam's  ribs,  the 
deduflion  niuif  be  allov/ed  to  fall  to  the  gronnd; 
D  2  or, 


52  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

or,  only  be  (o  far  admitted  as  it  proves  that  man, 
from  the  remoteft  antiquity,  found  it  convenient 
to  exert  his  flrength  to  lubjugate  his  compan- 
ion, and  his  invention  to  fhew  that  flie  aught  to 
have  her  neck  bent  under  the  yoke ;  becaufe  flie, 
as  well  as  the  brute  creation,  was  created  to  do 
his  pleafure. 

Let  it  not  be  concluded  that  I  wifli  to  invert 
the  order  of  things ;  I  have  already  granted, 
that,  from  the  conftitution  of  their  bodies,  men 
feem  to  be  deiigncd  by  Providence  to  attain  a 
greater  degree  of  virtue.  I  fpeak  collectively  of 
the  whole  fex  -,  but  I  fee  not  the  fhadow  of  a  rea- 
fon  to  conclude  that  their  virtues  fhould  differ  in 
refpecfl  to  their  nature.  In  facft,  hov/  can  they, 
if  virtue  has  only  one  eternal  ftandard  ?  I  mufl 
therefore,  if  I  reafon  confequentially,  as  ftrenu- 
ouily  maintain  that  they  have  the  fame  fimple  di- 
redl:ion,  as  that  there  is  a  God. 

It  follows  then  that  cunning  lliould  not  be 
oppofed.  to  wifdom,  little  cares  to  great  exertions-, 
nor  infipid  foftnefs,  varniOied  over  with  the  name 
of  gentlenefs,  to  that  fortitude  w^hich  grand  views 
alone  can  infpire. 

I  {hall  be  told  that  woman  would  then  lofe 
many  of  her  peculiar  graces,  and  the  opinion  of  a 
wxU  known  poet  might  be  quoted  to  refute  my 
unqualified  affertion.  For  Pope  has  faid,  in  the 
name  of  the  whole  male  fex, 

'  Yet  ne'er  fo  fure  our  paflion  to  create, 

«  As  when  /he  touch'd  ihe  brink,  of  all  wc  hate' 

In  what  light  this  fally  places  men  and  wo- 
men, I  fhall  leave  to  the  judicious  to  determine;; 

meanwhile 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN-  53 

meanwhile  I  fhall  content  myfelf  with  obferving, 
that  I  cannot  difcover  why,  unlefs  they  are  mor- 
tal, females  fliould  always  be  degraded  by  being 
made  fubfervient  to  love  or  luft. 

To  fpeak  difrefpedtfally  of  love  is,  I  know, 
high  treafon  againit  fentiment  and  fine  feelings  ; 
but  I  wi(h  to  fpeak  the  fmiple  language  of  truth, 
;ind  rather  to  addrefs  the  head  than  the  heart. 
To  endeavour  to  re^ifon  love  out  of  the  world, 
wquld  be  to  out  Quixote  Cervantes,  and  equally 
offend  againfl:  common  fenfe  ;  but  an  endeavour 
to  reilrain  this  tumultuous  palTion,  and  to  prove 
that  it  fhould  not  be  allowed  to  dethrone  fuperior 
powers,  or  to  ufurp  the  fceptre  which  the  under- 
ftanding  fliould  ever  coolly  wield,  appears  lefs 
wild. 

Youth  is  the  feafon  for  love  in  both  fexes ; 
but  in  thofe  days  of  thoughtlefs  enjoym.ent  pro- 
vifion  fliould  be  made  for  the  more  important 
years  of  life,  when  reflection  takes  place  of  fen- 
iation.  But  Roufieau,  and  mofl:  of  the  male  wri- 
ters who  have  followed  his  Heps,  have  warmly 
inculcated  that  the  whole  tendency  of  female 
education  ought  to  be  diredied  to  one  point  :— 
to  render  them  plealing. 

Let  me  reafon  with  the  fupporters  of  this  opin- 
ion who  have  any  knowledge  of  human  nature, 
do  they  imagine  that  marriage  can  eradicate  the 
habitude  of  life  ?  The  woman  who  has  only  been 
taught  to  pleafe  will  foon  find  that  her  charms  are 
oblique  funbeams,  and  that  they  cannot  have  much 
effedt  on  her  huiband's  heart  when  they  are  feen 
every  day,  when  the  fummer  is  pafTed  and  gone. 
Will  flie  then  have  fufficient  native  energy  to 
D  7  look 


54  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

look  into  herfelf  for  comfort,  and  cultivate  her 
dormant  faculties  ?  or,  is  it  not  more  rational  to 
expedt  that  flie  will  try  to  pleafe  other  men ;  and, 
in  the  emotions  raifed  by  the  expecftation  of  new 
conquefts,  endeavour  to  forget  the  mortification 
her  love  or  pride  has  received  ?  When  the  huf^ 
band  ceafes  to  be  a  lover — and  the  time  will  in- 
evitably come,  her  defire  of  pleafmg  will  then 
grow  languid,  or  become  a  fpring  of  bitternefs  ; 
and  love,  perhaps,  the  moil:  evanefcentof  all  paf- 
fions,  gives  place  to  jealoufy  or  vanity. 

I  now  fpeak  of  women  who  are  retrained  by 
principle  or  prejudice  j  fuch  women,  though  they 
would  ihrink  from  an  intrigue  with  real  abhor- 
rence, yet,  neverthelefs,  wi/h  to  be  convinced  by 
the  homage  of  gallantry  that  they  are  cruelly 
neglected  by  their  hulbands ;  or,  days  and  weeks 
are  fpent  in  dreaming  of  the  happinefs  enjoyed 
by  congenial  fouls,  till  the  health  is  undermined 
and  the  fpirits  broken  by  difcontent.  How 
then  can  the  great  art  of  plealing  be  fuch  a  ne- 
ceilary  iludy ;  it  is  only  ufeful  to  a  miftrefs  ;  the 
chafte  wife,  and  ferious  mother,  lliould  only  con- 
fider  her  power  to  pleafe  as  the  polifh  of  her  vir- 
tues, and  the  affedlion  of  her  hufband  as  one  of 
the  comforts  that  render  her  taflc  lefs  difficult  and 
her  life  happier. — But,  whether  (he  be  loved  or 
negleded,  her  firfl:  wiOi  fhould  be  to  make  her- 
felf  refpedtable,  and  not  to  rely  for  all  her  happi- 
nefs on  a  being  fubject  to  like  infirmities  with 
herfelf. 

The  amiable  Dr.  Gregory  fell  into  a  fmiilar 
error.  I  refpecfl  his  heart  ;  but  entirely  difap- 
prove  of  his  celebrated  Legacy  to  his  Daugh- 
ters.  He 


RIOHTS  OF  WOxMAN.  55 

.- .  He.  advifes  them  to  cultivate  a  fondnefs  for 
drefs,  becaufe  a  fondnefs  for  drefs,  he  aflerts,  is 
^latural  to  them.  I  am  unable  to  comprehend 
what  either  he  or  RcuIJeau  meaA,  when  they  fre-> 
quently  ufe  this  indefinite  term.  If  they  told  us 
that  in  a  pre-exiftent  ftate  ,the  foul  was  fond  of 
•drefs,  and  brought  this  inclination  with  it  into 
a  new  body,  I  fliould  liften  to  them  with  a  half 
fmile,  as  I  often  do  when  I  hear  a  rant  about  ii>r 
nate  ekgance.' — But  if  he  only  meant  to  fay  that 
•the  exercife  of  the  faculties  will  produce  this 
fondnefs — I  deny  it. — It  is  not  natural ;  but  ari- 
fes,  like  falfe  ambition  in  men,  from  a  love  of 
power. 

Dr.  Gregory  goes  much  further  5  he  adually 
recommends  diffimulation,   and  advifes  an  inno- 
cent girl  to  give  the  lie  to  her  feelings,  and  not 
dance  with  fpirit,  when  gaiety  of  heart  would 
make  her  feet  eloquent  without  making  her  gt{- 
tures  immodeft.;  -In  the  name  of  truth  and  com- 
mon {ci\(e,  why  fliould  not  one  woman  acknow- 
ledge that  (he  can  take  more  exercife  than  anoth- 
er ?  or,  in  other  words,  that  (he  has  a  found  con- 
ftitution  J  and  why,   to  damp  innocent  vivacity, 
is  flie  darkly  to  be  told  that  men  v/ill  draw  con- 
clufions  which  Ihe  little  thinks  of  ?  Let  the  lib- 
ertine   drav/  what  inference  he  pleafes  ;   but,  I 
hope,  that  no  fcnfible  mother  will  reilrain  the 
natural  franknefs  of  youth  by  inftilling  fach  in- 
decent cautions.      Out  of  the  abundance  of  the 
heart  the  mouth  fpeaketh  ^  and  a  wifer  than  Solo- 
.  mon   hath  laid,    that  the  heart  /hould  be  made 
clean,  and  not  trivial  ceremonies  obferved,  which 


56  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

it  is  not  very  difficult  to  fulfil  with  fcrupulous  ex- 
adinefs  when  vice  reigns  in  the  heart. 

Women  ought  to  endeavour  to  purify  their 
heart ;  but  can  they  do  fo  when  their  uncultiva- 
ted underftandings  make  them  entirely  dependent 
6li'  their  fenfes  for  employment  and  amufement, 
When  no  noble  purfuit  fets  them  above  the  little 
vanities  of  the  day,  or  enables  them  to  curb  the 
wild  emotions  that  agitate  a  reed  over  which  eve- 
i-y  pafiing  breeze  has  power  ?  To  gain  the  affec- 
tions of  a  virtuous  man  is  aftedtation  neceffary  .? 
Nature  has  given  woman  a  weaker  frame  than 
lilah ;  but,  to  enfure  her  hufband's  affedions, 
muft  a  wife,  who  by  the  exercife  of  her  mind 
and  body  whilR:  fhe  was  difcharging  the  duties 
of  a  daughter,  wife,  and  mother,  has  allowed  her 
conftitution  to  retain  its  natural  ftrength,  and  her 
nerves  a  healthy  tone,  is  fhe,  I  fay,  to  condefcend 
to  ufe  art  and  feign  a  fickly  delicacy  in  order  to 
{qcuvc  her  hufband's  aited:ion  ?  Weaknefs  may 
excite  tendernefs,  and  gratify  the  arrogant  pride 
of  man ;  but  the  lordly  carefles  of  a  proteftor 
will  not  gratify  a  noble  mind  that  pants  for,  and 
deferves  to  be  refpedied.  Fondnefs  is  a  poor 
fubflitute  for  friendfhip  ! 

In  a  feraglio,  I  grant,  that  all  thefe  arts  are 
neceffai-y  i  the  epicure  mufl  have  his  palate  tickled, 
or  he  will  fink  into  apathy ;  but  have  women  fo 
little  ambition  as  to  be  fatisiied  with  fuch  a  con- 
dition ?  Can  they  fupinely  dream  life  away  in  the 
lap  of  pleafure,  or  the  languor  of  wearinefs,  rather 
than  affert  their  claim  to  purfue  reafonable  plea- 
fures  and  render  themfelves  confpicuous  by  prac- 
tifing  the  virtues  which  dignify  mankind  ?  Surely 

llie 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  57 

flie  has  not  an  immortal  foul  who  can  loiter  life 
away  merely  employed  to  adorn  her  perfon,  that 
fhe  may  amiife  the  languid  hours,  and  foftcn  ths 
cares  of  a  fellow-creature  who  is  willing  to  he 
enlivened  by  her  fmiles  and  tricks,  when  theferi- 
ous  bulinefs  of  life  is  over. 

Befides,  the  woman  who  ftrengthens  her  body 
and  exercifes  her  mind  will,  by  managing  her  fa- 
mily and  pradifing  various  virtues,  become  the 
friend,  and  not  the  humble  dependent  of  her  huf- 
band,  and  if  Ihe  deferves  his  regard  by  poffefiing 
fuch  fubftantial  qualities,  ihe  will  not  iind  it  ne- 
ceffary  to  conceal  her  afte-ftion,  nor  to  pretend 
to  an  unnatural  coldnefs  of  conftitution  to  excite 
her  hufband's  paffions.  In  fa6t,  if  we  revert  to 
hiftory,  we  ihall  find  that  the  women  who  have 
diftinguifhed  tbemfelves  have  neither  been  the 
moft  beautiful  nor  the  moft  gentle  of  their  fex. 

Nature,  or,  to  fpeak  with  llrid:  propriety,  God, 
has  made  all  things  right ;  but  man  has  fought 
him  out  many  inventions  to  mar  the  work.  I 
now  allude  to  that  part  of  Dr.  Gregory's  treatif?, 
where  he  advifes  a  wife  never  to  let  her  hufband 
know  the  extent  of  her  fenfibility  or  aftedlion. 
Voluptuous  precaution,  and  as  ineffedual  as  ab- 
furd. — Love,  from  its  very  nature,  muft  be  tran- 
fitory.  To  feek  for  a  fecret  that  would  render 
it  conflant,  would  be  as  wild  a  fearch  as  for  the 
philofopher's  itone,  or  the  grand  panacea  :  and 
the  difcovery  would  be  equally  ufelcfs,  or  rather 
pernicious,  to  mankind.  The  moil:  holy  band 
of  fociety  is  friendfliip.  It  has  been  well  faid, 
by  a  flirewd  fatiriil:,  "  that  rare  as  true  love  is, 
true  friendfiiip  is  ilill  rarer." 

This 


5S  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

This  is   an  obvious  truth,  and  the  caufe  noi' 
lying  deep,  will  not  elude  a  llight  glance  of  in-^ 
quiiy. 

Love,  the  common  pafTion,  in  which  chance 
2nd  fenfation  take  place  of  choice  and  reafon,  is, 
in  fome  degree,  felt  by  the  mafs  of  mankind ;  for 
it  is  not  neceflary  to  fpeak,  at  prefent,  of  the  emo- 
tions that  rife  above  or  fmk  below  love.  This 
pafiion,  naturally  increafed  by  fufpenfe  and  diffi- 
culties, draws  the  mind  out  of  its  accuftomed 
ilate,  and  exalts  the  affedtions ;  but  the  fecurity 
of  marriage,  allowing  the  fever  of  love  to  fubfide, 
a  healthy  temperature  is  thought  infipid,  only  by 
thofe  who  have  not  fufficient  intellect  to  fubfti- 
tote  the  calm  tendernefs  of  friendlTiip,  the  confi- 
dence of  refpecl,  inllead  of  blind  admiration,  and 
ihe  fenfual  emotions  of  fondnefs. 

This  is,  mufi  be,  the  courfc  of  nature  : — 
friendfhip  or  indifference  inevitably  fucceeds  love. 
— And  this  conftitution  feems  perfectly  to  har- 
monize with  the  fyllem  of  government  vv'hich 
prevails  in  the  m.oral  world.  Paffions  are  fpurs 
to  aSion,  and  open  the  mind  ;  but  they  fmk  into 
mere  appetites,  become  a  perfonal  and  momenta- 
ry gratification,  when  the  objedl  is  gained,  and 
the  fatisfied  mind  refls  in  enjoyment.  The  man 
who  had  fome  virtue  vvhilft  he  v/as  flruggling 
for  a  crown,  often  becomes  a  voluptuous  tyrant 
\vhen  it  graces  his  brow  ;  and,  when  the  lover  is 
not  loil  in  the  huiband,  the  dotard,  a  prey  to 
childifh  caprices,  and  fond  jealouf^.es,  neglects  the 
ferious  duties  of  life,  and  the  carelles  which  lliould 
excite  confidence  in  his  children  are  lavilhcd  on 
the  overgro's^'n  child,  his  wife. 

In 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  5-9 

In  order  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  life,  and  to  be 
able  to  purfue  with  vigour  the  various  employ-^ 
ments  which  form  the  moral  character,  a  mafter 
and  miftrefs  of  a  family  ought  not  to  continue 
to  love  each, other  with  paflion.  I  mean  to  fay, 
that  they  ought  not  to  indulge  thofe  emotions 
■which  difturb  the  order  of  fociety,  and  engrofs 
the  thoughts  that  fhould  be  otherwife  employed. 
The  mind  that  has  never  been  engrolTed  by  one 
objeft  wants  vigour — if  it  can  long  be  fo,  it  is 
weak. 

A  miflaken  education,  a  narrow,  uncultivated 
mind,  and  many  fexual  prejudices,  tend  to  make 
women  more  conflant  than  men  ;  but,  for  the 
prefent,  I  Ihall  not  touch  on  this  branch  of  the 
lubje(fl.  I  will  go  ftill  further,  and  advance, 
without  dreaming  of  a  paradox,  that  an  unhappy 
marriage  is  often  very  advantageous  to  a  family, 
and  that  the  neglcd:ed  wife  is,  in  general,  the 
beft  mother.  And  this  would  almoft  always  be 
the  confequence  if  the  female  mind  was  more  en- 
larged :  for,  it  fcems  to  be  the  common  difpen- 
fation  of  Providence,  that  what  we  gain  in  pre- 
fent enjoyment  fhould  be  dedudled  from  the  trea- 
fure  of  life,  experience  ;  and  that  when  we  are 
gathering  the  flowers  of  the  day  and  revelling  in 
pleafure,  the  folid  fruit  of  toil  and  wifdom  fliould 
not  be  caught  at  the  fame  time.  The  way  lies 
before  us,  we  mufc  turn  to  the  right  or  left ;  and 
he  who  will  pafs  life  avN'ay  in  bounding  from  one 
pleafure  to  another,  muft  not  complain  if  he  nei- 
ther ac(juires  v/ifdom  nor  refpcilubility  of  charac- 
ter. 

Suppofmg, 


ffo  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

Suppofing,  for  a  moment,  that  the  foul  is  not 
immortal,  and  that  man  was  only  created  for  the 
prefent  fcene, — I  think  we  fliould  have  reafon  to 
complain  that  love,  infantile  fondnefs,  ever  grew 
infipid  and  pallid  upon  the  fenfe.  Let  us  eat, 
■drink,  and  love,  for  to-morrow  we  die,  would  be, 
in  fadt,  the  language  of  reafon,  the  morality  of 
life  ;  and  who  but  a  fool  would  part  with  a  reali- 
ty for  a  fleeting  ihadow  ?  But,  if  awed  by  ob- 
ferving  the  improvable  powers  of  the  mind,  we 
difdain  to  confine  our  widies  or  thoughts  to  fuch 
a  compai-atively  mean  field  of  adion  ;  that  only 
appears  grand  and  important,  as  it  is  conncfted 
with  a  boundlefs  profped:  and  fublime  hopes, 
what  neceffity  is  there  for  falfehood  in  condud, 
and  why  mufl  the  facred  majciliy  of  truth  be  vio- 
lated to  detain  a  deceitful  good  that  faps  the  very 
foundation  of  virtue  ?  Why  mufl  the  female  mind 
be  tainted  by  coquetifli  arts  to  gratify  the  fenfu- 
alift,  and  prevent  love  from  fubfiding  into  friend- 
fliip,  or  compaffionate  tendernefs,  when  there  are 
not  qualities  on  which  friendship  can  be  built  ? 
Let  the  honefl  heart  fhew  itfelf,  and  reafon  teach 
pafTion  to  fubmit  to  necelTity ;  or,  let  the  dig- 
nified purfuit  of  virtue  and  knowledge  raife  the 
mind  above  thofe  emotions  which  rather  imbit- 
ter  than  fweeten  the  cup  of  life,  when  they  are 
not  rellrained  within  due  bounds. 

I  do  not  mean  to  allude  to  the  romantic  paf- 
fion,  which  is  the  concomitant  of  genius. — Who 
can  clip  its  wing  ?  But  that  grand  paffion  not 
proportioned  to  the  puny  enjoyments  of  life,  is 
only  true  to  the  fentiment,  and  feeds  on  itfelf. 
The  paflions    which   have  been   celebrated  for 

theii: 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  6i 

their  durability  have  always  been  unfortunate. 
They  have  acquired  ftrength  by  ab fence  and  con- 
ftitutional  melancholy. — The  fancy  has  hovered 
round  a  form  of  beauty  dimly  (ccn — but  familiar- 
ity might  have  turned  admiration  into  difgufl:  ; 
or,  at  leall:,  into  inditterence,  and  allowed  the  im- 
agination leifure  to  ftart  frelh  game.  With  per- 
fe6t  propriety,  according  to  this  view  of  things, 
does  Roufleau  make  the  miftrcfs  of  his  foul, 
Eloifa,  love  St.  Preux,  v/hen  life  was  fading  be- 
fore her  ;  but  this  is  no  proof  of  the  immortali- 
ty of  the  pafilon. 

Of  the  fame  complexion  is  Dr.  Gregory's  ad- 
vice refpedling  delicacy  of  fentiment,  which  he 
advifes  a  woman  not  to  acquire,  if  ihe  has  deter- 
mined to  marry.  This  determination,  however, 
perfectly  confiflent  with  his  former  advice,  he 
calls  indelicate y  and  earneftly  perfuades  his  daugh- 
ters to  conceal  it,  though  it  may  govern  their 
condud  :  as  if  it  Vv^re  indelicate  to  have  the  com- 
mon appetites  of  human  nature. 

Noble  morality  !  and  coniiftent  with  the  cau- 
tious prudence  of  a  little  foul  that  cannot  extend 
its  views  beyond  the  prefent  minute  diviiion  of 
exiftence.  If  all  the  faculties  of  woman's  mind 
are  only  to  be  cultivated  as  they  refped:  her  de- 
pendence on  man  ^  if,  when  ihe  obtains  a  huf- 
band  fhe  has  arrived  at  her  goal,  and  meanly 
proud  is  fatisfied  with  fuch  a  paltry  crown,  let 
ner  grovel  contentedly,  fcarcely  raifed  by  her  em- 
ployments above  the  anima\^  kingdom  ;  but,  if 
fhe  is  flruggling  for  the  prize  of  her  high  call- 
ing, let  her  cultivate  her  underflanding  without 
flopping  to  confider  what  charader  the  hufband 

may 


H  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

may  have  whom  fne  is  defined  to  marry.  Let 
her  only  determine,  without  being  too  anxious 
about  preient  happinefs,  to  acquire  the  quaUties 
that  ennoble  a  rational  beins:,  and  a  rou2:h  inele- 
gant  hufhand  may  fliock  her  tafte  without  de- 
flroying  her  peace  of  mind.  She  will  not  model 
her  loul  to  fuit  the  frailties  of  her  companion, 
but  to  bear  with  them  :  his  character  may  be  a 
trial,  but  not  an  impediment  to  virtue. 

If  Dr.  Gregory  confined  his  remark  to  roman- 
tic expectations  of  conftant  love  and  congenial 
feelings,  he  lliould  have  recollected  that  experi^ 
ence  will  baniih  what  advice  can  never  make  us 
ceafe  to  wifh  for,  when  the  imagination  is  kept 
alive  at  the  expenfe  of  reafon. 

I  ov/n  it  frequently  happens  that  women  who 
have  foftercd  a  romantic  unnatural  delicacy  of 
feeling,  v/afte  their  *  Uves  in  imagining  how  hap- 
py they  Ihould  have  been  with  a  hufband  who 
could  love  them  with  a  fervid  increafing  affec- 
tion every  day,  and  all  day.  But  they  might  as 
well  pine  married  as  fmglc — and  vi'ould  not  be  a 
jot  more  unhappy  v^^ith  a  bad  hulband  than  long-^ 
ing  for  a  good  one.  That  a  proper  education  ; 
or,  to  fpeak  with  more  precifion,  a  well  llored 
mind,  would  enable  a  woman  to  fupport  a  fin- 
gle  life  with  dignity,  I  grant ;  but  that  ilie  fhould 
avoid  cultivating  her  tafte,  left  her  hufoand  fliouM 
occalionally  ihock  it,  is  quitting  a  fubllance  for  a 
Iliadow.  To  fay  the  truth,  I  do  not  know  of 
v/hat  ufe  is  an  improved  tafte,  if  the  individual  is 
not  rendered  more  independent  of  the  cafualties  of 
life  ;  if  new  fources  of  enjoyment,  only  depend- 
ent on    the  folitary  operations  of  the  mind,   are 

not 

•  Fcr  csamplf;  the  hritl  orr.cvelifts, 


RIGHTS  OF  V/OMAK.  65, 

net  opened.  People  of  taile,  married  or  fmgle; 
without  diftlndlion,  will  ever  be  difgufled  by  va- 
rious things  that  touch  not  lefs  obferving  minds. 
On  this  conclufion  the  argument  muft  not  be  al- 
lowed to  hinge;  but  in  the  whole  fum  of  enjoy- 
ment is  tafte  to  be  denominated  a  blefling  ? 

The  queftion  is,  whether  it  procures  moil  pcdTk 
or  plcafore  ?  The  anfwer  will  decide  the  proprie- 
ty of  Dr.  Gregory's  advice,  and  fliew  how  ab- 
furd  and  tymnnic  it  is  thus  to  lay  down  a  fy^cm 
of  llavery ;  or  to  attempt  to  educate  moral  beings, 
by  any  other  rules  than  thofe  deduced  from  pure 
reafon,  which  apply  to  the  whole  fpecies. 

Gentlenefs  of  manners,  forbearance  and  long- 
fufFering,  are  fuch  amiable  Godlike  qualities,  that 
in  fublime  poetic  flrains  the  Deity  has  been  in- 
vefted  with  them ;  and,  perhaps  no  reprefentatioa 
of  his  goodnefs  fo  ftrongly  fallens  on  the  human 
affeftions  as  thofe  that  reprefent  him  abundant 
in  mercy  and  willing  to  pardon.  Gentlen-sfs, 
•confidered  in  this  point  of  view,  bears  on  its  fronj 
all  tlie  chara6leriifics  of  grandeur,  combined  with 
the  winning  graces  of  condefcenlion  :  bus 
what  a  different  afpedl  it  affumes  when  it  is  the 
fubmiflive  demeanour  of  dependence,  the  fupport 
of  weaknefs  that  loves,  becaufe  it  wants  protec- 
tion ;  and  is  forbearing,  becaufe  it  mull:  iikntlj 
endure  injuries  ;  fmiling  under  the  ladi  at  which 
it  dare  not  fnarl.  Abjed  as  this  picture  appears, 
it  is  the  portrait  of  an  accompliilied  Vv'oman,  ac- 
cording to  the  received  opinion  of  female  excel- 
lence, feparated  by  fpecious  reafoners  from  hu- 
man excellence.     Or,    they  *  kindly  reftore  the 

rib^ 

•  Vide  RouflVau,  and  Swedecborg. 


64  VINDICATION  OF  THE  ' 

rib,  and  make  one  moral  being  of  a  man  and  wo- 
man ;  not  forgetting  to  give  her  all  the  *  fub- 
miffive  charms.' 

How  women  are  to  exifl  in  that  flate  where 
there  is  to  be  neither  manying  nor  giving  in 
marriage,  we  are  not  told. — For  though  moral - 
iils  have  agreed  that  the  tenor  of  life  feems  to 
prove  that  man  is  prepared  by  various  circum- 
ilances  for  a  future  flate,  they  conftantly  concur 
in  adviling  woman  only  to  provide  for  the  pre- 
fent.  Gentlenefs,  docility,  and  a  fpaniel-like  af- 
fedion  are,,  on  this  ground,  coniiftently  recom- 
mended as  the  cardinal  virtues  of  the  fex  ;  and, 
difregarding  the  arbitrary  economy  of  nature,  one 
writer  has  declared  that  it  is  mafculine  for  a  wo- 
man to  be  melancholy.  She  was  created  to  be 
the  toy  of  man,  his  rattle,  and  it  muft  jingle  in 
his  ears  whenever,  difmiiTmg  reafon,  he  choofes 
to  beamufed. 

To  recommend  gentlenefs,  indeed,  on  a  broad 
bafis    is    ftridly   philofophical.     A    frail    being 
fhould  labour  to  be  gentle.     But  when  forbear- 
ance confounds   right  and  wrong,  it  ceafes  to  be 
a  virtue;  and,    however  convenient   it  may   be 
found  in  a  companion — that  companion  will  ever 
be  confidered   as  an   inferior,  and    only  infpire  a 
vapid  tendernefs,  which  eafily   degenerates    into 
contempt.     Still,   if  advice  could  really  make  a 
being  gentle,  whofe  natural  difpofition  admitted 
not  of  fuch  a  fine  polifh,  fomething  towards  the 
advancement  of  order  would  be  attained  ;  but  if, 
as  might  quickly  be  demonflrated,  only  aifeda- 
tion  be  produced   by  this  indifcriminate  counfel, 
which  tlirovv'S  a  llumbling-block  in   the  way  of 


gradual 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  6^ 

gfadiial  improvement,  and  true  melioration  of 
temper,  the  fex  is  not  much  benefited  by  facri- 
iicing  folid  virtues  to  the  attainment  of  fuperficial 
graces,  though  for  a  few  years  they  may  procure 
the  individuals  regal  fway. 

As  a  philofopherj  I  read  with  indignation  thei 
plaulible epithets  which  men  ufe  to  foften  their  in> 
fults  ;  and,  as  a  moralift,  laikwhat  is  meant  by  fuch 
heterogeneous  aflbciations,  as  fair  defed:s,  amiable 
weaknelTes,  &c.  ?  If  there  is  but  one  criterion  of 
moralsi  but  one  archetype  for  man,  women  appear 
to  be  fufpended  by  deftiny,  according  to  the  vulgar* 
tale  of  Mahomet's  coffin  ,*  they  have  neither  the 
Unerring  inftindt  of  brutes^  nor  are  allowed  to  fix 
the  eye  of  reafon  on  a  perfect  model.  They  werd 
made  to  be  loved,  and  muft  not  aim  at  refpeft,  lell 
they  fhould  be  hunted  out  of  fociety  as  mafculine. 

But  to  view  the  fubjedl  in  another  point  of  view; 
Do  paflive  indolent  women  make  the  beft  wives  ?• 
Confining  our  difcuflion  to  the  prefent  mo- 
ment of  exiflence,  let  us  fee  how  fuch  weak 
creatures  perform  their  part  ?  Do  the  vcomen^ 
who,  by  the  attainment  of  a  few  fuperficial  ac- 
compliihmentSj  have  ftrengthened  the  prevailing 
prejudice j  merely  contribute  to  the  happinefs  of 
their  huibands  ?  Do  they  difplay  their  charms 
inerely  to  amufe  them  ?  And  have  women,  who 
have  early  imbibed  notions  of  pafiive  obedience, 
fufflcient  character  to  manage  a  family  or  educate 
children  ?  So  far  from  it,  th^t,  after  furveying 
the  hiflory  of  woman,  I  cannot  help  agreeing 
with  the  fevered  fatirift,  confidering  the  fex  as 
the  weakeft  as  well  as  the  moil  oppreiTed  half  of 
the  fpecies.  What  does  hiftory  difclofs  but  marks 
E  of 


4r/i^ 


66  VINDICATION  OF  TRE 

of  inferiority,  and  how  few  women  have  cnlan- 
cipated  themfelves  from  the  galling  yoke  of  fover-- 
eign  man  ? — So  few,  that  the  exceptions  remind 
me  of  an  ingenious  conjecture  refpecfting  New- 
ton :  that  he  was  probably  a.  being  of  a  fuperios 
order,  accidentally  caged  in  a-  human  body.  In 
the  iame  ftyle  I  have  been  led  to  imagine  tliat  ths 
few  extraordinary  women  who  have  ruflied  in  ec- 
centrical directions  out  of  the  orbit  prefcribed  to 
their  fex,  were  male  fpirited,  confined  by  miftakc 
in  a  female  frame.  But  if  it  be  not  philofophi- 
cal  to  think  of  fex  when  the  foul  is  mentioned^ 
the  inferiority  mufl  depend  on  the  organs  ;  or 
the  heavenly  fire,  which  is  to  ferment  the  clay,- 
is  not  given  in  equal  portiouvS. 

But  avoiding^  as  I  have  hitherto  done,  any  di- 
recft  Gomparifon  o-f  the  two  fexes  coiledtively,  ov 
frankly  acknowledging  the  inferiority  of  woman, 
according  to  the  prefent  appearance  of  things,  I 
fhall  only  infift  that  men  have  increafed  that  in- 
feriority till  woitien  are  almoft  funk  below  the 
ftandard  of  rational  creatures.  Let  their  faculties 
have  room  to  unfold,  and  their  virtues  to  gaiii 
flrength,  and  then  determine  where  the  whole 
fex  muft  ftand  in  the  intelledlual  fcale.  Yet  left 
it  be  remembered,  that  for  a  fmall  number  of 
diflinguiihed  women  I  do  not  aflv  a  place. 

It  is  difhcult  for  us  purblind  mortals  to  fay  to 
wiiat  height  human  difcoveries  and  improvements 
may  arrive  when  the  gloom  of  defpotifm  fub- 
fides,  which  makes  us  ftumble  at  every  flep ;  but,, 
when  morality  fliall  be  fettled  on  a  more  folid  ba- 
fis,  then,  without  being  gifted  with  a  prophetic 
fpirit,  I  will  venture  to  predi(ft  that  woman  will 

be 


RIGHtS  OF  WOMAN.  5; 

be  either  the  friend  or  flavc  of  man.  We  fhall 
not,  as  at  prefent,  doubt  whether  fhc  is  a  moral 
agent,  or  the  link  which  unites  man  with  brutes. 
But,  fhould  it  then  appear,  that  like  the  brutes 
they  were  principally  created  for  the  ufe  of  man, 
he  will  let  them  patiently  bite  the  bridle,  and 
riot  mock  them  with  empty  praife ;  or,  (hould 
their  rationality  be  proved,  he  will  not  impede 
their  improvement  merely  to  gratify  his  fenfual 
appetites.  He  will  not,  with  all  the  graces  of 
rhetoric,  advife  them  to  fubmit  implicitly  their 
underflanding  to  the  guidance  of  man.  He  will 
not,  when  he  treats  of  the  education  of  women, 
alTert  that  they  ought  never  to  have  the  free  ufe 
of  reafon,  nor  would  he  recommend  cunning  and 
difTimulation  to  beings  who  dre  acquiring,  in  lik^ 
manner  as  himfelf,  the  virtues  of  humanity. 

Surely  there  can  be  but  one  rule  of  right,  if 
morality  has  an  eternal  foundation,  and  whoever 
facrifices  virtue,  ftri6tly  fo  called,  to  prefent  con- 
venience, or  whofe  duty  it  is  to  a6t  in  fuch  a 
manner,  lives  only  for  the  pafTmg  day,  and  can- 
not be  an  accountable  creature. 

The  poet  then  Ihould  have  dropped  his  fneer 
when  he  fays, 

*•  If  weak  wonien  go  aftray, 

*•  The  ftars  «re  more  in  fault  than  they/* 

For  that  they  are  bound  by  the  adamantine  chain 
of  defliny  is  mofl  certain,  if  it  be  proved  that 
they  are  never  to  exercife  their  own  reafon,  never 
to  De  independent,  never  to  rife  above  opinion,  or 
to  feel  the  dignity  of  a  rational  will  that  only  bows 
to  God,  and  often  forgets  that  the  univerfe  con- 
E  2  tains 


68  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

tains  any  being  but  itfelf  and  the  model  of  per-* 
fedion  to  which  its  ardent  gaze  is  turned,  to  adore 
attributes  that,  foftened  into  virtues,  may  be  im- 
itated in  kind,  though  the  degree  overwhelms  the 
enraptured  mind. 

If,  I  fay,  for  I  would  not  imprefs  by  declama- 
tion when  Reafon  offers  her  fober  light,  it  they 
are  really  capable  of  ailing  like  rational  creatures, 
let  them  not  be  treated  like  flaves  ;  or,  like  the 
brutes  who  are  dependent  on  the  reafon  of  man, 
when  they  affociate  with  him ;  but  cultivate  their 
minds,  give  them  the  falutar}^  fublime  curb  of 
principle,  and  let  them  attain  confcious  dignity 
by  feeling  themfelves  only  dependent  on  God, 
Teach  them,  in  common  with  man,  to  fubmit 
to  necefTity,  inflead  of  giving,  to  render  them 
more  pleafing,  a  fex  to  morals » 

Further,  fhould  experience  prove  that  they 
cannot  attain  the  fame  degree  of  ilrength  of  mind, 
perfeverence,  and  fortitude,  let  their  virtues  be 
the  fame  in  kind,  though  they  may  vainly  ilrug- 
gle  for  the  fame  degree  ;  and  the  fuperiority  of 
man  will  be  equally  clear,  if  not  clearer ;  and 
truth,  as  it  is  a  fimpk  principle,  which  admits 
of  no  modification,  would  be  common  to  both. 
Nay,  the  order  of  fociety  as  it  is  at  prefent  regu- 
lated would  not  be  inverted,  for  woman  would 
then  only  have  the  rank  that  reafon  afTigned  her, 
and  arts  could  not  be  pradifed  to  bring  the  bal- 
ance even,  much  lefs  to  turn  it. 

Thefe  may  be  term.ed  Utopwn  dreams. — 
Thanks  to  that  Being  who  impreiled  them  on 
my  foul,  and  gave  me  fufiicient  ilrength  of  mind 
to  dare  to  exert  my  own  reafon,  till,  becoming 

dependent 


RIGHTS  OF  V/OMAN.  ^ 

dependent  only  on  him  for  the  fupport  of  my 
virtue,  I  view,  v^^ith  indignation,  the  miftaken 
notions  that  enllave  my  fex,. 

I  love  man  as  my  fellov/  ;  but  his  fcepter, 
real,  or  ufurped,  extends  not  to  me,  unlefs  the 
reafon  of  an  individual  demands  my  homage ; 
and  even  then  the  fubmifjion  is  to  reafon,  and 
not  to  man.  In  fail,  the  condudl  of  an  account- 
able being  mull  be  regulated  by  the  operations  of 
its  ovi^n  reafon  -,  or  gn  what  foundation  refts  the 
throne  of  God  ? 

It  appears  to  me  neceffary  to  dwell  on  thefe 
obvious  truths,  becaufe  females  have  been  infula- 
ted,  as  it  were ;  and,  while  they  have  been  ftrip- 
ped  of  the  virtues  that  fliould  clothe  humanity, 
they  have  been  decked  with  artificial  graces  that 
enable  them  to  exercife  a  fhort-liyed  tyranny. 
Love,  in  their  bofdms,  taking  place  of  every  no- 
bler paflion,  their  fole  ambition  is  to  be  fair,  to 
raife  emotion  inftead  of  infpiring  refpefl  -,  and 
this  ignoble  defire,  like  the  fervility  in  abfolutc 
monarchies,  deflroys  all  ftrength  of  charadler. 
Liberty  is  the  mother  of  virtue,  and  if  women 
^rc,  by  their  very  conflitution,  Haves,  and  not  al- 
lowed to  breathe  the  fliarp  invigorating  air  of 
freedom,  they  muft  ever  langulfli  like  exotics, 
and  be  reckoned  beautiful  flaws  in  nature  ; — let 
it  alfo  be  remembered,  that  they  are  the  only  flaw. 

As  to  the  argument  refpecfting  the  fubjedion 
in  which  the  fex  has  ever  been  held,  it  retorts  on 
man.  The  many  have  always  been  enthralled  by 
the  few ;  and  monfters,  who  fcarcely  have  fhewn 
any  difcernment  of  human  excellence,  have  ty- 
rannized over  thoufands  of  their  fellow  creatures. 
E  3  Why 


70  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

Why  have  men  of  fuperior  endowments  fub* 
mitted  to  fuch  degration  ?  For,  is  it  not  uni- 
verfally  acknowledged  that  kings,  viewed  collec- 
tively, have  ever  been  inferior,  in  abilities  and  vir- 
tue, to  the  fame  nuiriber  of  men  taken  from  the 
common  mafs  of  mankind — yet,  have  they  not, 
and  are  they  not  flill  treated  with  a  degree  of  re- 
verence that  is  an  infult  to  reafon  ;  China  is  not 
the  only  country  where  a  living  man  has 
been  made  a  God.  Men  have  fubmitted  to  fu- 
perior ftrength  to  enjoy  with  impunity  the  plea- 
sure of  the  moment — women  have  only  done  the 
fame,  and  therefore  till  it  is  proved  that  the 
courtier,  who  fervilely  religns  the  birthright  of  a 
man,  is  npt  a  moral  agent,  it  cannot  be  demon - 
flrated  that  woman  is  eflentially  inferior  to  man 
becaufe  fhe  has  always  been  fubjugated. 

Brutal  force  has  hitherto  governed  the  wo.rld, 
and  that  the  fcience  of  politics  is  in  its  infancy* 
is  evident  from  philofophers  fcrupling  to  give  the 
knowledge  moil  ufeful  to  man  that  determinate 
diftindtion. 

I  fhall  not  purfue  this  argument  any  further 
than  to  eftabliih  an  obvious  inference,  that  as 
found  politics  diffufe  liberty,  mankind,  in^cluding 
woman,  will  become  more  wife  and  virtuous. 


CHAP.. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  71 

CHAP.      III. 

THE    SAME    SUBJECT    CONTINUED. 

JjODILY  ftrength  from  being  the  diftinc- 
tion  of  heroes  is  now  funk  into  fuch  unmerited 
contempt,  that  men,  as  v/ell  as  women,  feem  to 
think  it  unneceflary  :  the  latter,  as  it  takes  from 
their  feminine  graces,  awd  from  that  lovely  weak- 
nefs,  the  fource  of  their  undue  power ;  and  the 
former,  becaulc  it  appears  inimical  with  the  cha- 
rad:er  of  a  gentleman. 

That  they  have  both  by  departing  from  one 
extreme  run  into  another,  may  eafily  be  proved  ; 
but  firft  it  may  be  proper  to  obfervc,  that  a  vul- 
gar error  has  obtained  a  degree  of  credit,  which 
has  given  force  to  a  faife  concluiion,  in  which  an 
effedt  has  been  miftaken  for  a  caufe. 

Beople  of  genius  have,  very  frequently,  im- 
paired their  cgnftitutions  by  ftudy  or  carelefs  in- 
attention to  tlieir  health,  and  the  violence  of 
their  paffions  bearing  a  proportion  to  the  vigour 
of  their  intellects,  the  fwor-d's  deftroying  the  fcab- 
bard  has  become  almu:>ft  proverbial,  and  fuper- 
ficial  obferverfi  have  inferred  from  thence,  that 
men  of  genius  have  commonly  weak,  or,  to  ufe  a 
more  fartiionable  pbrafe,  delicate  conftitutions. 
Yet  the  contrary,  I  believe,  will  appear  to  be 
the  fadt  ;  for,  on  diligent  inquiry,  I  find  that 
ilrength  of  mind  has,  in  moft  cafes,  been  accom- 
fianied  by  fuperlor  Itrength  of  body, — natural 
ibundnefs  of  conftitution, — not  that  robufl  tone 
E  4  of 


72  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

of  nerves  and  vigour  of  mufcles,  which  arife  from 
bodily  labour,  v^hen  the  mind  is  quiefcent,  or  on- 
ly direds  the  hands. 

Dr.  Prieftley  has  remarked^  in  the  preface  to 
his  biographical  chart,  that  the  majority  of  great 
men  have  lived  beyond  forty-five.  And,  conlid- 
ering  the  though tlefs  manner  in  vv^hich  they  have 
lavifhed  their  ftrength,  when  inveftigating  a  fa- 
vourite fcience  they  have  wafted  the  larpp  of  life, 
forgetful  of  the  midnight  hour  ;  or,  when  lofl  in 
poetic  dreams,  fancy  has  peopled  the  fcene,  and 
the  foul  has  been  diflurbed,  till  it  fhook  the  con- 
ilitution,  by  the  paflions  that  meditation  had  raif- 
ed  ;  whofe  objeds,  the  bafelcfs  fabric  of  a  vilion, 
faded  before  the  exhaufled  eye,  they  mufl  have 
had  iron  frames.  Shakefpeare  never  grafped  the 
airy  dagger  with  a  nervelefs  hand,  nor  did  Mil- 
ton tremble  when  he  led  Satan  far  from  the  con- 
fines of  his  dreary  prifon. — Thefe  v/ere  not  the 
ravings  of  imbecility,  the  fickly  efFufions  of  dif- 
tempered  brains ;  but  the  exuberance  of  fancy, 
that  *  in  a  fine  phrenzy'  wandering,  was  not  con- 
tinually reminded  of  its  material  fhacklcs. 

I  am  aware  that  this  argument  would  carry  me 
further  than  it  may  be  fuppqfed  I  wifh  to  go  ; 
but  I  follow  truth,  and,  flill  adhering  to  my 
firft  pofition,  I  will  allow  that  bodily  ftrength 
feems  to  give  man  a  natural  fuperiority  over  wo- 
man J  and  this  is  the  only  folid  bafis  on  which 
the  fuperiority  of  the  fex  can  be  built.  But  I 
ilill  inlift,  that  not  only  the  virtue,  but  the 
knowledge  of  the  two  fexes  fhould  be  the  fame  in 
pature,  if  not  in  degree,  and  that  women,  confid- 
cred  not  only  as  moral,  but  rational  creatures, 

ought; 


PvIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  73 

OUglit  to  endeavour  to  acquire  human  virtues  (or 
perfedtions)  by  the  fame  means  as  men,  inftead 
of  being  educated  like  a  fanciful  kind  oihalfht- 
in^ — one  of  Roufleau's  wild  cliimeras*. 

But, 

•  *  Refearche?  into  abfiraSl  and  fpeculative  truth?,  the  piinciplcs  and 
axioms  of  Icicnces,  in  fhort,  every  thing  whicli  lends  to  gcneraltxe 
our  ideas,  is  net  th«  proper  province  of  women  ;  their  ftudics  thoiild 
be  relative  to  point  of  praflice ;  it  belongs  to  them  to  apply  thofe 
principles  which  men  have  difcovered  ;  and  it  is  their  part  to  make 
obfcrvations,  which  direiS  men  to  the  ertablifmncni  of  genera!  princi- 
ples. All  the  ideas  of  women,  which  have  not  the  immediate  tenden- 
cy to  points  of  duty,  fhould  be  dire£\ed  to  tiie  Hudy  of  men,  and  to  the 
attainment  of  thole  agreeable  accoriiplifliments  which  have  lafte  for 
their  objeiil  ;  for  a$  to  works  of  genius,  they  aie  beyond  their  capaci- 
ty ;  neither  have  they  fufEcient  precifion  or  power  of  attention  to  (uc- 
ceed  in  fcjences  which  require  accuracy  :  and  as  to  pliyfic:il  know- 
ledge, it  belongs  to  thofe  only  who  are  moft  a6live,  mo(f  inquifiiivej 
who  comprehend  the  greatelt  vaiiety  of  obicfis  :  in  (hort,  it  belongs 
to  thofe  who  have  the  llrongell  powers,  and  who  exercife  them  moft,  to 
judge  of  the  relaiions  between  Icnfible  beings  and  the  laws  of  nature. 
A  womun  who  is  naturally  weak,  and  docs  not  cairy  her  ideas  to  any 
great  e:£tcnt,  knows  how  to  judge  and  make  a  proper  eftimate  of 
thofe  movements  v\hich  (lie  (eti  to  work,  in  order  to  aid  her  weak- 
nefs  J  and  thefe  movements  are  the  pafiions  of  men.  The  mechanifm 
fhe  employs  is  much  more  powerful  ihan  ours  ;  for  all  her  levers  mova 
the  human  heart.  She  muft  have  the  Ikill  to  incline  us  to  do 
every  thiiig  which  her  lex  will  not  enable  her  to  do  of  heri'elf,  and 
which  is  neceffary  or  agreeable  to  her  ;  therefore  flie  ought  to  ftutiy 
the  mind  of  man  thoroughly,  not  the  mind  of  man  in  general,  ab- 
ftra<3ed,  but  the  di^ofuions  of  thofe  men  to  whom  (lie  is  fubjeCl,  either 
by  the  laws  of  her  country  or  by  the  force  of  opinion.  She  lliouid 
learn  to  penetrate  into  their  real  lentimcnts  from  their  conveifation, 
their  aiSions,  their  looks,  and  geftuies.  She  fhould  alio  have  the  art, 
by  her  own  converfaiion,  ai5lioBS,  looks,  and  geftures,  to  communi- 
cate thofe  (entiments  which  are  agreeable  to  them,  wi'hoiit  feeming 
to  intend  it.  Men  will  argue  more  philolbphically  about  the  human 
heart  ;  but  women  will  read  the  hsnit  of  anan  bcuer  than  they.  It 
belonf  s  to  womtn,  if  I  may  be  allowed  the  exprelTion,  to  form  an  cx- 
perimeiital  morality,  and  to  reduce  the  ftudy  of  man  to  a  lyflera. 
Women  have  moil  wit,  men  have  nioft  genius  ;  women  obferve,  men 
reafon  ;  from  the  concurrence  of  both  we  deiive  the  cleared  light  and 
the  moft  ptrfecl  knoAlcdge,  which  the  human  mind  Is,  of  iti'elf,  cspa- 
bie  of  attaining.  In  one  word,  from  hence  we  acquire  the  molt  in- 
timate acquaintance,  both  with  001  (tlves  and  others,  of  %vhich  our  na- 
ture is  capaliie  ;  and  it  is  tlms  that  art  has  a  ccnllant  tendency  to 
peifeil  thofe  endowments  which  nattire  lias  bellowed. —  The  world  is 
the  hook  of  women.'  Rou£';au''s  Emi/iu.i.  I  hope  my  readcis  Hill  re- 
member t'le  com]  arifon,  which  1  have  bjcught  forwat  J,  between  womea 
ar.d  ufliisis. 


74  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

But,  if  ftrength  of  body  be,  with  fome  {hew 
•of  reafon,  the  boaft  of  men,  why  are  women  fo 
infatuated  as  to  be  proud  of  a  defecft  ?  RoulTeau 
has  furniihed  them  with  a  plaufiblc  excufe, 
^vhich  could  only  have  occurred  to  a  man, 
whofe  imagination  had  been  allowed  to  run  wild, 
fiiid  refine  on  the  impreiTions  made  by  exquifite 
ienfes  ; — that  they  might,  forfooth,  have  a  pre.- 
text  for  yielding  to  a  natural  appetite  without  vi- 
olating a  romantic  fpecies  of  modefty,  which 
gratifies  the  pride  and  libertinifm  of  man. 

Women,  deluded  by  thefefentiments,  fometimes 
ijoaft  of  their  weaknefs,  cunningly  obtaining  pow- 
er by  playing  on  the  iveaknefs  of  men  ;  and  they 
may  well  glory  in  their  illicit  fway,  for,  like  Tur- 
kifh  bafhaws,  they  have  more  real  power  than 
their  maflers  :  but  virtue  is  iacrinced  to  tempo- 
3*ary  gratifkations,  and  the  refpe(5lability  of  life  tQ 
«he  triumph  of  an  hour. 

Women,  as  well  as  defpots  have  now,  perhaps, 
more  power  than  they  would  have  if  the  world, 
<3ivided  and  fubdivided  into  kingdoms  and  fami- 
lies, was  governed  by  laws  deduced  from  theex- 
'Crcife  of  reafon  ;  but  in  obtaining  it,  to  carry  on 
"the  comparifon,  their  chara^fler  is  degraded,  and 
licentioufnefs  fpread  through  the  whole  aggregate 
of  fociety.  The  many  become  pedefial  to  the 
few.  I,  therefore^  v/ill  venture  to  afiert,  that  till 
women  are  mere  rationally  educated,  the  progrefs 
of  human  virtue  and  imDrovement  in  knowledge 
mull:  receive  continual  checks.  And  if  it  be 
granted  that  woman  was  not  created  merely  to 
gratify  the  appetite  of  man,  nor  to  be  the  upper 
fervant,  who  provides  his  meals  and  tykes  careoi 

his 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  75 

his  linen,  it  muft  follow,  that  the  firft  care  of 
thofe  mothers  or  fathers,  who  really  attend  to  the 
education  of  females,  fliould  be,  if  not  to  ftrength- 
en  the  body,  at  leaft,  not  to  deftroy  the  conflitu- 
tion  by  miftaken  notions  of  beauty  and  female  ex- 
cellence ;  nor  fhould  girls  ever  be  allowed  to 
imbibe  the  pernicious  notion  that  a  defeat  can, 
by  any  chemical  procefs  of  reafoning,  become  an 
excellence.  In  this  refpe'St,  I  am  happy  to  find, 
that  the  author  of  one  of  the  mofi  inftrudlive 
books,  that  our  country  has  produced  for  children, 
coincides  with  me  in  opinion  ;  I  fhall  quote  his 
pertinent  remarks  to  give  the  force  of  his  re- 
fpedtable  authority  to  reafon*.  But 

•  A  refpefiahle  old  man  gives  the  following  fenfible  account  of  the 
meihcd  he  puil'ued  when  educating  his  daughter.  •  1  endeavoured  to 
'  give  both  to  her  mind   and  body  a    degree   of  vigour,  wliich  is  feidora 

*  found    in    the   female   ftx.     As  foon  as  flie    was    fufficiently   advanced 

*  in  ftrength    to  be  cipablcof  the    lighter  labours  of  hufbandry  and  gar- 

*  dening,   I  employed  her  as    my  conftant  companion.     Selene,    for  that 

*  was    her   name,    fuon   acquired  a  dexterity  in    all   ihefe  rurtic  ttnploy- 

*  ments,  which  I  confidered  with  equal  pleafuie  and  admiration.  If 
^  women  are   in  general  feeble  both  in  hjdy  and  mind,   it  arifes  lefs  from 

*  natuic  than  from   education.     We   encourage   a  vicieui  indolence  and 

*  inaflivity,  which  we  falfcly  call  delicacy  j  iurtead   of   haidening  their 

*  minds  by   the  feverer  principles   of  reafon    and  philofophy,  we  breeil 

*  them  to   ufdefs  arts,    which   terminate   in   vanity  and  ienfuality.     in 

*  moft  of  the   countries  which    I  had  vifitpd,  they  are   taught  nothing  of 

*  an  higher  nature   than  a  few  modulations  of  the  voice,  or  ufelefs  poC- 

*  tures  of  the  body  j  their  time  is  confumed  in  floth  or  trifles,  and  tri- 
'  fles  become  the   only   purfuits   capable  of  iniereding  them.     We  fecm 

*  to  forget,    that  it  is  upon  the  qualities  of   the  female  fex  that  our  own 

*  domeftic    comforts   and  the  education   of  our  children     mull   depend. 

*  And   what  are  the  comforts   or  the  education  which  a  race  of  beings, 

*  corrupted  from  tljeir  infancy,  and  unacquainted  with  all  the  duties  of 
«  li^e,  are  fitted   to   beftow  ?  To   touch  a  mulical  inflrumer.t  with  ufelefs 

*  fkill,  to  exhibit  their  natural  or  affViSed  graces  to  the  eyes  of  indolent 
<  and  debauched  young  men,  to  diHipate  their  hufbandg  patrimony  i.i 
«  riotous    and  unneccffary   expenfes,  thefe  are  the  only  arts  cultivated  by 

*  women  in   moll   of  the  poliflied  naiiins  I   had  liren.     And   the  conf't- 

*  qutnces  are  uniformly   fuch  as  may  be   expeiled   to  proceed  from    iuch 

*  poluttd  Iburces,  private  milery  and  public  (ervitudc. 

•  But  Selene'i  education   W3s  regulated  by  different  views,   and  con- 

*  dueled   upon   rever»r  principles;  if   that  can    be  called  feve  ity    which 

*  cyen*  the  mind  to  a  ienfe  of  moral  «ind  relltrions  duties,  and  mcft  et'- 
feflually  arms  it  againft  the  inevitaWIe  evils  of  life.' 

Mr.  Daj  I  iiunford  and  Merlon,  Vol.  Ill, 


7$  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

But  fhould  it  be  proved  that  v/oman  is  natu- 
rally weaker  than  man,  from  whence  does  it  follow 
that  it  is  natural  for  her  to  labour  to  become  ftiU 
weaker  than  nature  intended  her  to  be  ?  Arguments 
of  this  caft  are  an  infult  to  common  fenfe,  and  fa- 
vour paffion.  The  divine  right  of  hufbands,  like 
tlie  divine  right  of  kings,  may,  it  is  to  be  hoped, 
in  this  enlightened  a2;e,  be  contelled  without  dan- 
gcr,  and,  though  convidlion  may  not  filence  ma- 
ny boifterous  difputants,  yet  when  any  prevaiUng 
prejudice  is  attacked,  the  wife  will  confider,  and 
leave  the  narrow-minded  to  rail  with  thought- 
lefs  vehemence  at  innovation. 

The  mother,  who  wifhes  to  give  true  dignity 
of  character  to  her  daughter,  mufl,  regardlefs  of 
the  fneers  of  ignorance,  proceed  on  a  plan  dia- 
metrically oppolite  to  that  which  Roufleau  has 
recommended  with  all  the  deluding  charms  of 
eloquence  and  philofophical  fophiflry  :  for  his 
eloquence  renders  abfurdities  plaufible,  and  his 
•dogmatic  conciufions  puzzle,  without  convinc- 
ing, thofe  w"ho  have  not  ability  to  refute  them. 

Throughout  the  whole  animal  kingdom  every 
young  creature  requires  almofl  continual  exer- 
cife,  and  the  infancy  of  children,  conformable  to 
this  intimation,  fhould  be  palled  in  harmlefs 
gambols,  that  exercife  the  feet  and  hands,  with- 
out requiring  very  minute  direction  from  the 
head,  or  the  conllant  attention  of  a  nurfe.  In 
{i\t\y  the  care  neceffary  for  felf-prefervation  is  the 
firfl  natural  exercife  of  the  underftanding,  as  lit- 
tle inventions  to  amufe  the  prefent  moment  un- 
fold the  imagination.  But  thefe  wife  defigns  of 
nature  are  counteracted  by  miilaken   fondnefs  or 

blind 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  7/ 

blind  zeal.  The  child  is  not  left  a  moment  to 
its  own  direction,  particularly  a  girl,  and  thus 
rendered  dependent — dependence  is  called  natural. 

To  preferve  perfonal  beauty,  woman's  glory  * 
the  limbs  and  faculties  are  cramped  with  worfe 
than  Chinefe  bands,  and  the  fedentary  life  which 
they  are  condemned  to  live,  whilll:  boys  frolic  in 
the  open  air,  weakens  the  mufcles  and  relaxes 
the  nerves. — As  for  Roulfeau's  remarks,  which 
have  fince  been  echoed  by  feveral  writers,  that 
they  have  naturally,  that  is  from  their  birth,  in- 
dependent of  education,  a  fondnefs  for  dolls, 
drefhng,  and  talking — they  are  fo  puerile  as  non 
to  merit  a  ferious  refutation.  That  a  girl,  con- 
demned to  fit  for  hours  together  liitening  to  the 
idle  chat  of  weak  nurfes,  or  to  attend  at  her  mo- 
ther's toilet,  will  endeavour  to  join  the  converfa- 
tion,  is,  indeed,  very  natural  -,  and  that  ihe  will 
imitate  her  mother  or  aunts,  and  amufeheifelf  by; 
adorning  her  lifelefs  doll,  as  they  do  in  dreffing 
her,  poor  innocent  babe  !  is  undoubtedly  a  moft 
natural  confequence.  For  men  of  the  greatell, 
abilities  have  feldom  had  fufficient  ftrength  tOj 
rife  above  the  furrounding  atmofphere  ;  and,  if 
the  page  of  genius  has  always  been  blurred  by 
the  prejudices  of  the  age,  fome  allowance  fhould 
be  made  for  a  fex,  who  like  kings,  always  fee 
things  through  a  falfe  medium. 

In  this  manner  may  the  fondnefs  for  drefs,, 
confpicuous  in  women,  be  eafily  accounted  for, 
without  fuppoling  it  the  refult  of  a  delire  to- 
pleafe  the  fex  on  which  they  are  dependent.  The 
abfurdity,  in  fhort,  of  fuppofmg  that  a  girl  is  na- 
turally a  coquette,  and  that  a  dcfire  connected  with. 

the 


78  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

the  impulfe  of  nature  to  propagate  the  fpecies, 
fhould  appear  even  before  an  improper  education 
has,  by  heating  the  imagination,  called  it  forth 
prematurely^  is  fo  unphilofophical,  that  fuch  a 
fagacious  obferver  as  RoufTeau  would  not  have 
adopted  it,  if  he  had  not  been  accuflomed  to" 
make  rcafon  give  way  to  his  defire  of  fmgularity, 
and  truth  to  a  favourite  paradox. 

Yet  thus  to  give  a  fcx  to  mind  was  not  very 
conliftent  with  the  principles  of  a  man  who  ar- 
gued fo  warmly,  and  fo  well,  for  the  immortality' 
of  the  foul. — But  what  a  weak  barrier  is  truth 
when  it  flands  in  the  way  of  an  hypothefis  ! 
RoufTeau  refpefled — almofl  adored  virtue — and 
yet  he  allowed  himfelf  to  love  with  fenfual  fond- 
nefs.  His  imagination  conf!:antly  prepared  in- 
flammable fewel  for  his  inflammable  fenfes  ; 
but,  in  order  to  reconcile  his  refpedt  for  felf- 
denial,  fortitude,  and  thofe  heroic  virtues,  which 
a  mind  like  his  could  not  coolly  admire,  he  la- 
bours to  invert  the  law  of  nature,  and  bioaches 
a  doclrine  pregnant  Vvith  mifchief  and  derogato- 
ry to  the  charader  of  fupreme  wifdom. 

His  ridiculous  ftories,  which  tend  to  prove  that 
girls  are  naturally  attentive  to  their  perfons,  with- 
out laying  any  flirefs  on  daily  example,  are  below 
contempt. — And  that  a  little  mils  fliould  have 
fuch  a  cor  reft  tafte  as  to  negleft  the  pleafing 
amufement  of  making  O's,  merely  becaufe  fhe 
perceived  that  it  v/as  an  ungraceful  attitude, 
fliould  be  feledted  with  the  anecdotes  of  the 
learned  pig*.  I 

•  •  I  once  knew  a  young  perfon  w'oo  learned  fo  wiite  before  flic  learn-. 

*  erf  to    renij,  antt    l»egan  to  vvrite   with    her  needle  befoie    ftie  couW  ufe 

*  a  pen.     At  fit  ft,    indeed,    ftic   took    it   into   her  head  to  make    no  other 

*  iecter  thin  the    O  :  thit  letter  (he  wat  conllatuly  making   of  all  Hzes, 

*an4 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  79 

.  I  have,  probably,  had  an  opportunity  of  ob- 
ierving  more  girls  in  their  infancy  than  J.  J- 
KoulTeau — I  can  recolkdt  my  own  fcelinga,  and 
I  have  looked  fteadily  arouad  me  ;  yet,  fo  far 
from  coinciding  with  hini  in  opinion  refpedling' 
the  firft  dawn  of  the  female  character,  I  will  ven- 
ture to  affirm,  that  a  girl,  whofe  fpirits  have  notr 
been  damped  by  inactivity,  or  innocence  tainted 
by  falfe  fhame,  will  always  be  a  romp^  and  the 
doll  will  never  excite  attention  unlefs  confine- 
ment allows  her  no  alternative.  Girls  and  boys, 
in  (hort,  would  play  harmlefsly  together,  if  tho 
diflincflion  of  fex  was  not  inculcated  long  before 
nature  makes  any  difference. — I  will  go  further, 
and  affirm,  as  an  indifputable  fad:,  that  moll  of 
the  women,  in  the  circle  of  my  obfervation,  who 
have  a^5t:ed  like  rational  creatures,  or  fhev/n  any 
vigour  of  intelledl",  have  accidentally  been  allow- 
ed to  run  wild — as  fome  of  the  elegant  formers 
of  the  fair  fex  would  inflnuate. 

The  baneful  confequences  which  flow  from 
inattention  to  health  during  infancy,  and  youth, 
extend  further  than  is  fuppofed — dependence  of 
body  naturally  produces  dependence  of  mind  j 
and  how  can  (he  be  a  good  wife  or  mother,  the 
greater  part  of  whofe  time  is  employed  to  guard 
againfb  or  endure  licknefs  ?  Nor  can  it  be  expect- 
ed that  a   woman   will    refolutely   endeavour  to 

ftrengthen 

*  and  always  the  wrong  way.  Unluckily,  one  day,  3R  ftie  wa«  intent  oa 
'  this  employment,  fhe  happened  tofeehcrfelf  in  the  looking-glafs  j  whei;» 
•raking  adifliketothe  ccnftrainej  aitiiuJe  in  which  (he  fat  while  writing, 

*  fl>e  threw  away  her  pen,  like  another  Pallas,  and  determined  agairft  mak- 
'  ino  the  O  any  more.  Her  bioiher  was  alio  equally  averfe  to  writing  ;  it 
'  was  the  confinement,  however,  and  net  the  conltrained  anirade,  that 
'jiijciftdirguftcd  hi/B.'  RoHjJ'eaHt  Ernilnn^ 


2o  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

flrengthen  her  conflitution  and  abftain  from  en- 
ervating indulgencies,  if  artificial  notions  of  beau- 
ty, and  falfe  defcriptions  of  fenfibility,  have  been 
early  entangled  with  her  motives  of  ad:ion .  MoH 
men  are  fometimes  obliged  to  bear  with  bodily 
inconveniencies,  and  to  endure,  occafionally^  the 
inclemency  of  the  elements ;  but  genteel  women 
are,  literally  fpeaking,  ilaves  to  their  bodies,  and 
glory  in  their  fubjeclicn. 

I  once  knew  a  vT^ak  woman  of  fashion,  who 
was  more  than  commonly  proud  of  her  delicacy 
and  fenlibility.  She  thought  a  difkinguifliing 
taflie  and  puny  appetite  the  height  of  all  human 
perfedtion,  and  aifted  accordingly. — I  have  feen 
this  weak  fophifticated  being  negleul  all  the  du- 
ties of  life,  yet  recline  with  felf-cornplacency 
on  a  fofa,  and  boafl  of  her  want  of  appetite  as  a 
proof  of  delicacy  that  extended  to,  or,  perhaps,- 
arofe  from,  her  exquifite  fenfibility  :  for  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  render  intelligible  fuch  ridiculous  jargon; 
—Yet,  at  the  moment,  I  have  feen  her  infnlt  a 
worthy  old  gentlewoman,  whom  unexpected 
misfortunes  had  made  dependent  on  her  often ta- 
tious  bountyj  and  who,  in  better  days,  had  claims 
on  her  gratitude.  Is  it  poffible  that  a  human 
creature  could  have  become  fuch  a  weak  and  de- 
praved being,  if,  like  the  Sybarites,  diffolved  in 
luxuryj  every  thing  like  virtue  had  not  been  worn 
away,  or  never  impreiled  by  precept,  a  poor  fub- 
ilitute,  it  is  true,  for  cultivation  of  mind,  though 
it  ferves  as  a  fence  againft  vice  ? 

Such  a  woman  is  not  a  more  irrational  mon- 
fter  than  feme  of  the  Roman  emperors,  who 
were   depraved  by   lawlefs   power.     Yet,    iinee 

kings 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  8i, 

kings  have  been  more  under  the  reftraint  of  law, 
and  the  curb,  however  weak,  of  honour,  the  re- 
cords of  hiftory  are  not  filled  with  fuch  unnatu- 
ral inflances  of  folly  and  cruelty,  nor  does  the 
defpotifm  that  kills  virtue  and  genius  in  the  bud, 
hover  over  Europe  with  that  deltrud:ive  bla(t 
which  defolates  Turky,  and  renders  the  men,  as 
Well  as  the  foil,  unfruitful. 

¥/omen  are  every  where  in  this  deplorable 
flate ;  for,  in  order  to  preferve  their  innocence,  as 
ignorance  is  courteoufiy  termed,  truth  is  hidden 
from  them,  and  they  are  made  to  affume  an  arti- 
ficial character  before  their  faculties  have  acquired 
any  ftrength.  Taught  from  their  infancy  that 
beauty  is  woman's  fceptre,  the  mind  fhapes  itfelf 
to  the  body,  and,  roaming  round  its  gilt  cage, 
only  feeks  to  adorn  its  prifon.  Men  have  various 
employments  and  purfuits  which  engage  their  at- 
tention, and  give  a  character  to  the  opening 
mind  ;  but  women,  confined  to  one,  and  having 
their  thoughts  confbantly  direded  to  the  moil:  in- 
fignificant  part  of  themfelves,  feldom  extend  their 
views  beyond  the  triumph  of  the  hour.  Biit  was 
their  underftanding  once  emancipated  from  the 
flavery  to  which  the  pride  andfenfuality  of  man  and 
their  fhort-fighted  defire,  like  that  of  dominion 
in  tyrants^  of  prefent  fway,  has  fubje€led  them, 
we  fhould  probably  read  of  their  weaknefles  with 
furprife.  I  muft  be  allowed  to  purfue  the  ar-- 
gument  a  little  farther. 

Perhaps,  if  the  exiflence   of  an  evil  being  wais 

allowed,  who,  in  the  allegorical  language  of  fcrip- 

ture,  went  about  feeking  whom  he  Ihould  devour, 

he  could  not  more  effectually  degrade  the  human 

F  charavfter 


82  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

charadler  than  by  giving  a  man  abfolute  pow- 
er. 

This  argument  branches  into  various  ramifica- 
tions.—^Birth,  riches,  and  every  cxtrinlic  advan- 
tage that  exalt  a  man  above  hhs  fellows,  without 
any  mental  exertion^  link  him  in  reality  below 
them.  In  proportion  to  his  wcaknefs,  he  is 
played  upon  by  defigning.  men,  till  the  bloated 
monfter  lias  loft  all  traces  of  humanity.  And 
that  tribes  of  men,:  like  flocks  of  Iheep,  fhould 
quietly  follow  fuch  a  leader,  is  a  folecifm  that 
only  a  defire  of  prefent  enjoyment  and  narroW- 
nefs  of  underftanding  can  folve.  Educated  in 
flavidi  dependence,  and  enervated  by  luxury  and 
floth,  where  fliall  we  find  men  who  will  ftand 
forth  to  affert  the  rights  of  man  -,: — or  claim  the 
privilege  of  moral  beings »  who  fhould  have  but 
one  road  to  excellence  ?  Slavery  to  monarchs  and 
minifters,  which  the  world  will  be  long  in  freeing 
itfelf  from,  and  whofe  deadly  gralp  flop  the 
progrefs  of  the  human  mind,  is  not  yet  abolifhed^ 

Let  not  men  then  in  the  pride  of  power,  ufc 
the  feme  arguments  that  tyrannic  kings  and  venal 
minifters  have  ufed,  and  fallaciouily  affert  that 
woman  ought  to  be  fubjeded  becaufe  {lie  has 
always  been  fo.— But,  when  man,  governed  by 
reafonable  laws,  enjoys  his  natural  freedom,  let 
him  defpife  woman,  if  fhe  do  not  Ihare  it  with 
him  ;  and  till  that  glorious  period  arrives,  in  de- 
fcanting  on  the  folly  of  the  fex,  let  him  not  over- 
look his  own.. 

Women,  it  is  true,  obtaining  power  by  unjuH: 
means,  by  pradtifing  or  foftering  vice,  evidently  lofe 
the  rank  which  reafon  would  aliign  them,  and  they 

become 


ItlGHtS  OF  WOMAN.  8^ 

become  either  abjeft  Haves  or  capricious  tyrants* 
They  lofe  all  limplicity,  all  dignity  of  mind,  iii 
acquiring  power,  and  a6l  as  men  are  obferved  to 
ad  when  they  have  been  exalted  by  the  fame 
means. 

It  is  time  to  effedl  a  revolution  in  female  man- 
ners— time  to  reftore  to  them  their  loft  dignity — * 
and  make  them,  as  a  part  of  the  human  fpecies, 
labour  by  reforming  themfelves  to  reform  the 
world.  It  is  time  to  feparate  unchangeable  mor- 
als from  local  manners. — If  menbe  demi-gods— . 
why  let  U9  ferve  them  !  And  if  the  dignity  of  the 
female  foul  be  as  difputable  as  that  of  animals — * 
if  their  reafon  does  not  afford  fufficient  light  to 
dire(fl  their  condu6t  whilft  unerring  inftinc^  is 
denied — they  arc  furely  of  all  creatures  the  moit 
miferable  !  and,  bent  beneath  the  iron  hand  of 
deftiny,  muft  fubmit  to  be  a  fair  defe5i  in  crea- 
tion. But  to  juftify  the  ways  of  Providence  re- 
fpedting  them,  by  pointing  out  fome  irrefragable 
reafon  for  thus  making  fucli  a  large  portion  of 
mankind  accountable  and  not  accountable,  would 
puz2le  the  fubtileft  cafuift. 

The  only  folid  foundation  for  morality  appears 
to  be  the  character  of  the  fupreme  Being  ;  the 
harmony  of  which  arifes  from  a  balance  of  attri- 
butes ; — and,  to  fpeak  with  reverence,  one  attri- 
bute feems  to  imply  the  necejjity  of  another.  He 
muft  be  juft,  becaufe  he  is  wife,  he  muft  be  good, 
becaufe  he  is  omnipotent.  For  to  exalt  one  at- 
tribute at  the  expenfc  of  another  equally  noble 
and  necelTary,  bears  the  ftamp  of  the  warped  rea- 
fon of  man — the  homage  of  paftion.  Man,  ac- 
cuftomedt  to  bow  down  to  power  in  liis  favage 
F  2  ftate. 


84  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

flate,  can  feldom  divefl  himfclf  of  this  barbarcra^ 
prejudice,  even  when  civilization  determines  hov/ 
much  fuperior  mental  is  to  bodily  flrength ;  and 
his  reafon  is  clouded  by  thefe  crude  opinions, 
even  when  he  thinks  of  the  Deity.  His  omnip- 
otence is  made  to  fwallow  up,  or  prefide  over  his 
other  attributes,  and  thofe  mortals  are  fuppofed 
to  limit  his  pov/er  irreverently,  v/ho  think  that  it 
miill  be  regulated  by  his  wifdom. 

I  difclaim  that  fpecious  humility  which,  after 
invefligating  nature,  ftops  at  the  author. — The 
High  and  Lofty  One,-  who  inhabiteth  eternity, 
doubtlefs  poiTefles  many  attributes  of  which  we 
can  form  no  conception ;  but  reafon  tells-  me  that 
they  cannot  clafh  with  thofe  I  adore — and  I  am- 
compelled  to  liften  to  her  voice. 

It  feems  natural  for  mail  to  fearch  for  excel- 
len-ce,  and  either  to  trace  it  in  the  obje(5l  that  he 
vvoriliips,  or  blindly  to  inveft  it  with  perfection, 
as  a  garment.  But  v/hat  good  efFedt  can  the 
latter  mode  of  worfliip  have  on  the  moral  con- 
duit of  a  rational  being  ?  He  bends  to  power  ; 
he  adores  a  dark  cloud,  which  may  o-pen  a  bright 
profpedt  to  him,  or  burft  in  angry ,  lawlcfs  fury, 
on  his  devoted  head — he  knows  not  why.  And^ 
fuppofmg  that  the  Deity  adls  from  the  vague  im- 
pulfe  of  an  undiredted  will,  man  mufl  alfo  follow 
bis  own,  or  ad:  according  to  rules,  deduced  from 
principles  which  he  difclaims  as  irreverent.  In- 
to this  dilemma  have  both  enthuuafls  and  cooler 
thinkers  fallen,  when  they  laboured  to  free  men 
from  the  wholefome  reftraints  which  a  jufl  con- 
ception of  the  charad:er  of  God  impofes. 

It 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN,  S5 

Tt  is  not  Impious  thus  to  fcan  the  attributes 
of  the  Almighty  :  in  fadt,  who  c?.n  avoid  it  that 
exercifes  his  faculties  ?  For  to  love  God  as  the 
fountain  of  wifdom,  goodnefs,  and  power,  ap- 
pears to  be  the  only  worfhip  ufeful  to  a  being 
who  wifhes  to  acquire  either  virtue  or  know- 
ledge. A  blind  unfettled  affection  may,  like  hu- 
man pafTions,  occupy  the  mind  and  warm  the 
heart,  whilft,  to  do  juftice,  love  mercy,  and  walk 
humbly  with  our  God,  is  forgotten.  I  fhall 
purfue  this  fubjed:  ftill  further,  when  I  confider 
religion  in  a  light  oppofite  to  that  recommended 
by  Dr.  Gregory,  who  treats  it  as  a  matter  of  fen- 
timent  or  tafle. 

To  return  from  this  apparent  digreffion,  It 
were  to  be  wifhed  that  women  would  cheri(h  an 
a'ffe(flion  for  their  hu{bands,  founded  on  the  fame 
principle  that  devotion  ought  to  reft  upon.  No 
other  firm  bafc  is  there  under  heaven — for  let 
them  beware  of  the  fallacious  light  of  fentiment ; 
too  often  ufed  as  a  fofter  phrafe  for  fenfuality.  It 
follovv's  then,  I  think,  that  from  their  infancy 
Avomen  fhould  either  be  fliut  up  like  caflern  prin- 
ces, or  educated  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  be  able  to 
think  and  act  for  themfelves. 

Why  do  men  halt  between  two  opinions,  and 
expe6t  impofTibilities  ?  Why  do  they  expe6t  vir- 
tue from  a  flave,  from  a  being  whom  the  confti- 
tution  of  civil  fociety  has  rendered  weak,  if  not 
vicious  ? 

Still  I  know  that  it  will  require  a  confiderable 
length  of  time  to  eradicate  the  firmly  rooted  pre- 
judices   which  fenfualifts  have   planted  ;  it  will 
^Ifo  require  fonie  time  to  convince  v/omen  that 
F  3  they 


86  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

they  adt  contrary  to  their  real  intereft  on  an  en- 
larged fcale,   when  they  cherifh  or  afi^dl  weak- 
nefs  under  the  name  of  deUcacy,  and  to  convince 
the  world  that  the  poifoned  fource  of  female  vices 
^nd  follies,  if  it  be  neceflary,  in  compliance  with 
cullom,  to  ufe  fynonymous  terms  in  a  lax  fenfe, 
has  been  the  fenfual  homage  paid  to  beauty  : — to 
beauty  of  features  ;  for  it  has  been  Ihrewdly  ob- 
fervedby  a  German  writer,  that  a  pretty  woman, 
as  an  objedl  of  delire,   is  generally  allowed  to  be 
fo  by  men  of  all  defcriptions  j  whilft  a  fine  wo- 
man, who  infpires  more  fublime  emotions  by  dif- 
playing   intelledtual  beauty,    may  be  overlooked 
or  obferved  with  indifference,  by  thofe  men  who 
find  their  happinefs   in  the  gratification  of  their 
appetites.     I   forefee  an   obvious  retort — whilfl 
man  remains  fuch  an  imperfc6l  being  as  he  ap- 
pears hitherto  to  have  been,  he  will,  more  or  lefs, 
be  the  Have  of  his  appetites  ;  and  thofe  women 
pbtaining  moft  power  who  gratify  a  predominant 
one,  the  fex  is  degraded  by  a  phyfical,  if  not  by 
a  moral  neceffity. 

This  objection  has,  I  grant,  fome  force  j  but 
while  fuch  a  fublime  precept  exifts,  as,  '  be  pure 
^s  your  heavenly  Father  is  pure  ;'  it  would  fcem 
that  the  virtLies  of  man  are  not  limited  by  the  Be- 
ing wlio  alone  could  limit  them  ;  and  that  he 
may  prefs  forward  without  confidering  whether 
he  fteps  out  of  his  fphere  by  indulging  fuch  a 
noble  ambition.  To  the  wild  billows  it  has  been 
faid,  *■  thus  far  fhalt  thou  go,  and  no  further  ; 
^  and  here  fhall  thy  proud  waves  be  flayed.' 
Vainly  then  do  they  beat  and  foam,  reftrained  by 
the  power  that  confines  the  ftruggling  planets  ii^ 

their 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  87 

their  orbits,  matter  yields  to  the  great  governing 
Spirit. — But  an  imriiortal  foul,  not  reftrained  by 
mechanical  laws  and  struggling  to  free  itfelf  from 
the  fhackles  of  matter,  contributes  to,  inftead  of 
difturbing,  the  order  of  creation,  when,  co-op- 
erating with  the  Father  of  fpirits,  it  tries  to  gov- 
ern itfelf  by  the  invariable  rule  that,  in  a  degree, 
before  which  our  imagination  faints,  the  univerfe 
is  regulated- 

Beiides,  if  womten  are  educated  for  depend- 
ence ;  that  is,  to  a6t  according  to  the  will  of  an- 
other faJUble  being,  and  fubmit,  right  or  wrong, 
to  power,  where  are  we  to  flop  ?  Are  they  to  be 
confidered  as  vicegerents  allov/ed  to  reign  over  a 
fmall  domain,  and  anfwerable  for  their  conduct  to 
a  higher  tribunal,  liable  to  error  ? 

Jtv/ill  not  be  difficult  to  prove  that  fuch  dele- 
gates will  adt  like  men  fubjedted  by  fear,  and  make 
their  children  and  fervants  endure  their  tyran- 
nical oppreffion.  As  they  fubmit  without  rea- 
fon,  they  will,  having  no  iixed  rules  to  fquar© 
their  condudl  by,  be  kind,  or  cruel,  jufl:  as  the 
whim  of  the  moment  dired:s  ;  and  we  ought  not 
to  wonder  if  foir^etimes,  galled  by  their  heavy 
yoke,  they  take  a  malignant  pleafufe  in  refling  it 
on  weaker  fhoulders. 

But,  fuppofing  a  woman,  tr^ned  up  to  obedi- 
ence, be  married  to  a  fenfible  man,  who  direds 
her  judgment  without  making  her  feel  the  fer- 
vility  of  her  fubjed:ion,  to  adl  with  as  much  pro- 
priety by  this  remedied  light  as  can  be  expedled 
when  reafon  is  taken  at  fecond  hand,  yet  fhe  can- 
not enfure  the  life  of  her  prctedlor  ;  he  may  dis 
and  leave  her  with  a  lar^e  family, 

''~''^' :'  F4     /  A 


88  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

A  double  duty  devolves  on  her  ;  to  educate 
them  in  the  charadler  of  both  father  and  mother  j 
to  form  their  principles  and  fecure  their  proper- 
ty. But,  alas !  flie  has  never  thought,  much  lefs 
a6ted  f(ir  herfelf.  She  has  only  learned  to  pleafe  * 
men,  to  depend  gracefully  on  them  ;  yet,  en- 
cumbered with  children,  how  is  fhe  to  obtain 
another  protedtor — a  hufband  to  fupply  the  place 
of  reafon  ?  A  rational  man,  for  we  are  not  tread- 
ing on  romantic  ground,  though  he  may  think 
her  a  pleafmg  docile  creature,  will  not  choofe  to 
marry  ^.familyiQX  love,  when  the  world  contains 
many  more  pretty  creatures.  What  is  then  to 
become  of  her  ?  She  either  falls  an  eafy  prey  to 
feme  mean  fortune-hunter,  who  defrauds  her 
children  of  their  paternal  inheritance,  and  renders 
her  miferable  -,   or  becomes  the  vidlim  of  difcon- 

tent 


•  *  In  the  union   of  the  fexes,   both  purfue   onf  cominon   objtdt,  but 
J  not  in  tlie  (ime  manner.    From  their  diverfiiy  in  this  particular,  arifcs  tlic 

*  firft  determinate  difference  betv.xen  the  moral  relations  of  each.    The  one 

*  ftiould  be  a6\ive  and  ftrong,  the  other  paffive  and  weak  :    ii  is  ncceflafy 

*  the  one  (honid  have    both  the  power   and  the  will,  and    that  the  other 

*  fliould  make  little  refiftance. 

•  This  principle  being  eftablifhed,   it  foUows    that  womar,  is  exprefsly 

*  formed  to  pleafe  the  man  ;  if  the  obligation  be  reciprocal  alfo,  and  the  mas 

*  ought  to  pleafe  in  his  turn,  it  is  not  fo  immediately    neceffary  :  his  great 

*  merit  is  in   his    power,   and    he    pleafei    merely   becaufc    he  is    ftronfj. 
«   This,  I  muft  confefs,  is    not  one   of  the  refined    maxims  of  love  ;  it  is, 

*  however,  one  of  the  laws  of   nature,  priprtp  love  itfelf. 

•  If  woman  be  formed  to  pleafeand  be  fnbjefled  to  man  it  is  her  p'ace, 

*  doubtlcfs,  to  render  herfell  agreeable  to   Him,   inftead  of  challenging  his 

*  pafllon.     The  violence  of  his  defircs  depends  on    her  charms   ;  it  is  by 

*  means  of  thefe  rtie  fhould  urge  him  to  the  exertion  of  thofe  powers  which 
-*.   nature  hath  giving  him.     The    mbft  fuccefsful  m«thod  of  exciting  them, 

*  is,  fo  render  fuch  cxerticn   neceffary  by  their  rcfiftance  ;    as,  in  that  cafe, 

*  felf- love  is  added    to  defire,  and  the  one  triumphs    in  the  viftory  which 

*  the  other   obliged  to  acquire.     Hence  arife  the  various  modes  of  attack 

*  and  defence  between  the  fexes  ;  the  boldnefs  of  one  fex  and  the  timidity  of 

*  the  other  ;  and,  in  a  word, that  bafhfulnefs  and  modcfty  with  which  nature 
f  hnth  armed  the  weak,  in  order  to  fubdue  the  ftrong.'    Roii£eaiCi  Emil]:^. 

I  fhall  make  no  other  comment  on  this  ingejiiuspaffage,  than  jult  to  ob- 
fcrve,  that  it  is  ihe  phiiofophy  of  lafjivittufntfj. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  Sg 

tent  and  blind  indulgence.  Unable  to  educate 
her  fons,  or  imprefs  them  with  refpect ;  for  it  is 
not  a  play  on  words  to  afiert,  that  people  are 
never  refpedled,  though  filling  an  important  fta- 
tion,  who  are  not  refpedlable  ;  ihe  pines  under 
the  anguifh  of  unavailing  impotent  regret.  The 
ferpent's  tooth  enters  into  her  very  foul,  and  the 
vices  of  licentious  youth  bring  her  with  forrow, 
if  not  with  poverty  alfo,  to  the  grave. 

This  is  not  an  overcharged  pidlure ;  on  the  con- 
trary, it  is  a  very  poffible  cafe,  and  fomething 
limilar  rauft  have  fallen  under  every  attentive 
eye. 

I  have,  however,  taken  it  for  granted,  that  ilie. 
was  well-difpofed,  though  experience  fliews,  that 
the  bhnd  may  as  eafily  be  led  into  a  ditch  as  along 
the  beaten  road.  But  fuppofmg  no  very  impro- 
bable conjedlure,  that  a  being  only  taught  to 
pleafe  mufl  ftill  find  her  happinefs  in  pleafmg ; 
- — what  an  example  of  folly,  not  to  fay  vice,  will 
{he  be  to  her  innocent  daughters  !  The  mother 
will  be  loft  in  the  coquette,  and  inflead  of  mak- 
ing friends  of  her  daughters,  view  them  with 
eyes  alkance,  for  they  are  rivals — rivals  more 
cruel  than  any  other,  becaufe  they  invite  a  com- 
parifon,  and  drive  her  from  the  throne  of  beauty, 
who  has  never  thought  of  a  feat  on  the  bench  of 
reafon. 

It  does  not  require  a  lively  pencil,  or  the  dif- 
criminating  outline  of  a  caricature,  to  fKCtch  the 
domeftic  miferies  and  petty  vices  v/hich  fuch  a 
miftrefs  of  a  family  difFufes.  Still  llic  only  adts 
as  a  vvoman  ought  to  a£l,  brought-  up  accord- 
ing to  RouiTeau's  fyflem.  She  can  never  be  re- 
proached 


go  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

proached  for  being  mafculine,  or  turning  out  of 
iier  fphere ;  nay,  fhc  may  obferve  another  of  his 
grand  rules,  and  cautioufly  preferving  her  repu- 
tation free  from  fpot,  be  reckoned  a  good  kind  of 
woman.  Yet  in  what  refpeft  can  llie  be  termed 
good  ?  She  abilains,  it  is  true,  without  any  great 
ftruggle,  from  committing  grofs  crimes  ;  but 
how  does  llie  fulfil  her  duties  ?  Duties  ! — in 
truth  fhe  has  enough  to  think  of  to  adorn  her 
body -and  nurfe  a  weak  conflitution. 

With  refped;  to  religion,  fhe  never  prefumed 
to  judge  for  herfelf ;  but  conformed,  as  a  depend- 
ent creature  fhould,  to  the  ceremonies  of  the 
church  which  flie  was  brought  up  in,  piouily 
believing  that  vvifer  heads  than  her  own  have  fet- 
tled that  bufinefs : — and  not  to  doubt  is  her  point 
of  perfedion.  She  therefore  pays  her  tythe  of 
mint  and  cummin — and  thanks  her  God  that  (he 
is  not  as  other  women  are.  Thefe  are  the  blef- 
fed  effeds  of  a  good  education  !  Thefe  the  virtues 
of  man's  help-mate*  ! 

I  muil  relieve  myfelf  by  drawing  a  different 
pi(5ture. 

Let  fancy  now  prefent  a  woman  with  a  tolera- 
ble underflanding,  for  I  do  not  wifh  to  leave  the 
line  of  mediocrity,  whofc  conflitution,  flrength- 
cned  by  exercife,  has  allowed  her  body  to  acquire 
its  full  vigour  ;  her  mind,  at  the  lame  time,  gra- 
dually 

*  *  O  hew  love'y,'  exclaims  RoulTeau,  fpeaking  of  Sophia,  *  Is  her  igno- 

*  ranee  !   Happy  i^  he  who  is  deftincd  to  inlinidt  her!  She  will  never   pie- 

*  tend  to  be  the  tutor  of  her  hufbaiid,  but  will  be  content  to  be  his  pupil. 

*  Far  from  attempting  to   fubjefl  him  to  her  tafte,   (he  will  accommodate 

*  herfelf  to  his.     She  will  be  more  eftimable  to  him,  than  if  flir  was  learn- 

*  ed  :  he  will  have  a  pleafure  in  inftrufting  her.'         Roi'feau's  Emilius. 

I  (hall  content  myfelf  with  fimply  artcing,  how  fri;ud(hip  can  iubfiSj, 
when  love  expires,  bctwtcn  the  mijllsr  and  his  piijiil  ? 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN,  g% 

dually  expanding  itfelf  to  comprehend  the  moral 
duties  of  Ufe,  and  in  what  human  virtue  and  dig- 
nity confift. 

Formed  thus  by  the  difcharge  o£  the  relative 
duties  of  her  ilation,  (he  marries  from  affe6lion, 
without  lofing  light  of  prudence,  and  looking 
beyond  matrimonial  felicity,  Ihe  fecures  her  huf- 
band's  refpeil  before  it  is  necelTary  to  exert  mean 
arts  to  pleafe  him  and  feed  a  dying  flame,  which 
nature  doomed  to  expire  when  the  objed:  became 
familiar,  when  friendfhip  and  forbearance  take 
place  of  a  more  ardent  affection. — This  is  the 
natural  death  of  love,  and  domeflic  peace  is  not 
deftroyed  by  ftruggles  to  prevent  its  extindtioiv 
I  alfo  fuppofe  the  hulband  to  be  virtuous ;  or  ihe 
is  flill  more  in  v/ant  of  independent  principles. 

Fate,  however,  breaks  this  tie. — She  is  left  a 
widow,  perhaps,  without  a  fufficient  provilion  ; 
but  {he   is  not  defolate  !  The  pang  of  nature  is 
felt  5  but  after  time  has  foftened  forrow  into  me- 
lancholy reiignation,  her  heart  turns  to  her  chil- 
dren  with  redoubled    fondnefs,   and  anxious  to 
provide  for  them,  affeftion  gives  a  facred  heroic 
caft  to  her  maternal  duties,    .  She  thinks  that  not 
pnly  the  eye  fees  her  virtuous  efforts  from  whom 
all  her  comfort  now  mud  flow,  and  whofe  appro- 
bation is  hfe  ',  but  her  imagination,  a  little  ab- 
ftra6ted  and  exalted  by  grief,  dwells  on  the  fond 
hope  that  the  eyes   which  her  trembling  hand 
clofed,  may  ftill  fee  how  flie  fubdues  every  way- 
v/ard  pafiion  to   fulfil  the  double  duty  of  being 
the  father  as  well  as  tbe  mother  of  her  children. 
Raifed  to  heroifm  by  misfortunes,  fhe  repreilcs 
the  fiffl  faint   downing  of  a   natural   ijiclination, 

before 


qz  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

before  It  ripens  into  love,  and  in  the  bloom  of 
life  forgets  her  fex — forgets  the  pleafure  of  an 
awakening  paffion,  which  might  again  have  been 
infpired  and  returned.  She  no  longer  thinks  of 
pleaiing,  and  confcious  dignity  prevents  her  from 
priding  herfelf  on  account  of  the  praife  which 
lier  condu6t  demands.  Her  children  have  her 
love,  and  her  brightefl  hopes  are  beyond  the  grave, 
where  her  imagination  often  ft  rays. 

I  think  I  fee  her  furrounded  by  lier  children, 
reaping  the  reward  of  her  care.  The  intelligent 
eye  mc-ets  hers,  whilfl:  health  and  innocence fmilc 
on  their  chubby  cheeks,  and  as  they  grow  up  the 
cares  of  life  are  lefTened  by  their  grateful  attention. 
She  lives  to  fee  the  virtues  which  fhe  endea- 
voured to  plant  on  principles  fixed  into  habits, 
to  fee  her  children  attain  a  ftrength  of  character 
fufficient  to  enable  them  to  endure  adverfity  with- 
out forgetting  their  mother's  example. 

The  tafk  of  life  thus  fulfilled,  (he  calmly  waits 
for  the  lleep  of  death,  and  rifing  from  the  grave, 
may  fay — Behold,  thou  gaveft  me  a  talent — and 
here  are  five  talents. 

I  willi  to  fum  up  what  I  have  fiid  in  a  few 
words,  for  I  here  throw  down  my  gauntlet,  and 
deny  the  exiftence  of  lexual  virtues,  not  excepting 
modefty.  For  man  and  woman,  truth,  if  I  un- 
derftand  the  meaning  of  the  word,  muft  be  the 
fame ;  yet  the  fanciful  female  character,  fo  pret- 
tily drawn  by  poets  and  novel ifts,  demanding  the 
facrifice  of  truth  and  fincerity,  virtue  becomes  a 
relative  idea,  having  no  other  foundation  than 
utility,  and  of  that  utility  men  pretend  arbitrari- 
ly to  judge,  fh-iping  it  to  their  own  convenience^ 


KIGHTS  OI^  WOMAN*.  g^ 

Women,  I  allow,  may  have  different  duties  to 
fiilfil ;  but  they  are  human  duties,  and  the  prin- 
ciples that  fliould  regulate  the  difcharge  of  thcm» 
I  flurdily  maintain,  muft  be  the  fame. 

To  become  refped:able,  the  cxercife  of  their  un- 
derftanding  is  neceffary,  there  is  no  other  foun- 
dation for  independence  of  characfter  j  I  mean  ex- 
plicitly to  fay  that  they  mufl  only  bow  to  the 
authority  of  reafon,  inftead  of  being  the  modefi 
fiaves  of  opinion. 

In  the  fuperiour  ranks  of  life  how  feldom  do 
we  meet  with  a  man  of  fuperior  abilities,  or  evea 
common  acquirements  ?  The  reafon  appears  to 
ine  clear,  the  ftate  they  are  born  in  was  an  unnatural 
one.  The  human  charader  has  ever  httxi  form- 
ed by  the  employments  the  individual,  or  clafs, 
purfues  j  and  if  the  faculties  are  not  fharpened  by 
necelTity,  they  muft  remain  obtufe.  The  argu- 
ment may  fairly  be  extended  to  women  ;  for, 
feldom  occupied  by  ferious  bulinefs,  the  purfuit 
of  pleafure  gives  that  infignificancy  to  their  cha- 
rader  which  renders  the  lociety  of  the  great  (o 
infipid.  The  fame  want  of  firmnefs,  produced  by  a 
fimilar  caufe,  forces  them  both  to  fly  from  them- 
selves to  noify  pleafares,  and  artificial  paflions,  till 
vanity  takes  place  of  every  focial  affetflion,  and,  the 
chara^lerillics  ofhumanitycanfcarcely  be  difc^rn- 
td.  Such  are  the  bleflings  of  civil  governmciits, 
as  they  are  at  prefent  organized,  that  wealth  ^nd 
female  foftnefs  equally  tend  to  debafe  mankind, ^nd 
are  produced  by  the  fame  caufe  ^  but  allowing 
women  to  be  rational  creatures,  they  jfhould  be  in- 
cited to  acquire  virtues  which  they  may  call  their 
own,  for  how  can  a  rational  being  be  ennobled  by 
any  thing  that  is  not  obtained  by  its  civn  exer- 
tions ?  C  H  A  P. 


^4  ViNDICAtlON  OF  trffi 

C     II    A    P.      IV. 

OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STATE  OF  DEGRA- 
DATION TO  WHICH  WOMAN  IS  kEDUCEO 
BY  VARIOUS   CAUSES* 

X  HAT  woman  is  naturally  weak,  or  de- 
graded by  a  concurrence  of  circurnilances,  is,  I 
think,  clear.  But  this  pofition  I  fhall  fimply  con- 
traft  with  a  conclufion,  which  I  have  frequen- 
ly  heard  fall  from  fenfible  men  in  favour  of  an 
ariftocracy  :  that  the  mafs  of  mankind  cannot  be 
any  thing,  or  the  obfequious  Haves,  who  patient- 
ly allow  themfelves  to  be  penned  up,  would  feel 
their  own  confequence,  and  fpurn  their  chains. 
Men,  they  further  obferve,  fubmit  every  where 
to  opprefnon,  when  they  have  only  to  lift  up 
their  fieads  to  throw  off  the  yoke  ;  yet,  inflead 
of  alTerting  their  birthright,  they  quietly  lick  the 
dufl,  and  fay,  let  us  cat  and  drink,  for  to-morrow 
we  die.  Women,  I  argue  from  analogy,  are  de- 
graded by  the  fame  propenfity  to  enjoy  the  pre- 
fent  moment  ;  and,  at  laft,  defpife  the  freedom 
which  they  have  not  fufficient  virtue  to  flruggle 
to  attain.     But  I  mufl  be  more  explicit. 

With  refped  to  the  culture  of  the  heart,  it  is 
tmanimoufly  allowed  that  fex  is  out  of  the  quef- 
tion  ;  but  the  line  of  fubordinatlon  in  the  mental 
powers  is  never  to  be  pafled  over*.     Only   *  ab- 

folate 


•  Into  what  incoBfiftencies  do  men  fall  when  they  argue  without  the 
comj>ars  of  principles.  Wwincn,  wenk  women,  are  comparid  with  angels  ; 
yet,  H  (uj)eri«iir  order  of  being?  (hjuld  be  rupi»ofcd  to  polfefs   more  intelleil 

than 


Rights  of  woman,         9j 

folute  in  lovelinefs/  the  portion  of  rationality 
granted  to  woman,  is  indeed  very  fcanty  ;  for,  de- 
nying her  genius  and  judgment,  it  is  fcarcely  pof^ 
fible  to  divine  what  remains  to  chara6tefirze  intel- 

The  ftamina  of  immortality,  if  I  may  be  al- 
lowed the  phrafe,  is  the  perfedtibility  of  humaii 
reafon  :  for,  was  man  created  pcrfed,  or  did  a 
flood  of  knowledge  break  in  upon  him,  when  he 
arrived  at  maturity,  that  precluded  error,  I  fliould 
doubt  whether  his  exiflence  would  be  continued 
after  the  diifolution  of  the  body.  But,  in  the 
prefent  ftate  of  things,,  every  difficulty  in  moral& 
that  efcapes  from  human  difcuffion,  and  equally 
baffles  the  inveltigation  of  profound  thinking, 
and  the  lightning  glance  of  genius,  is  an  argu- 
ment on  v/hich  I  build  my  belief  of  the  immor^ 
tality  of  the  foul.  Reafon  is,  confequentially,  ther 
ftmple  power  of  improvement ;  or,  more  proper- 
ly fpeaking,  of  difcerning  truth.  Every  individu- 
al is  in  this  refpedl  a  world  in  itfelf.  More  or 
lefs  may  be  confpicuous  in  one  being  than  an- . 
other  ;  Ixit  the  nature  of  reafon  mufl  be  the  fame 
in  all,  if  it  be  an  emanation  of  divinity,  the  tie 
that  connects  the  creature  with  the  Creator  j  for^ 
can  that  foul  be  ftamped  with  the  heavenly  im- 
age, that   is  not  perfected  by  the  exercilb  of  its 

own 


t1i3n  man  ;  or,  in  what  doss  their  fuperiority  confift  ?  In  the  Tame  ftyl«,  t© 
diop  tlie  (neer,  ihey  are  allowed  to  poflefs  more  goodnefs  of  heart,  piety, 
and  bene\'()lence.— I  douht  the  fa6>,  though  it  be  courteoufly  brought  lor- 
W'srd,  unlpfs  ignorance  be  allowed  to  be  the  mother  of  devotion  ;  for  I  am 
firmly  peifui'Jed  that,  on  an  average,  the  proportion  between  viitus  ah  J 
kaovrJed^c,  is  more  upon  a  par  than  is  cerouioiily  granttJ, 


96  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

own  reafon*  ?  Yet  outwardly  ornamented  wifh 
elaborate  care,  and  fo  adorned  to  delight  man, 
*  that  with  honour  he  may  love  -f  /  the  foul  of 
woman  is  not  allowed  to  have  this  diftindion, 
and  man,  ever  placed  between  her  and  reafon, 
ilie  is  always  reprefented  as  only  created  to  fee 
through  a  grofs  medium,  and  to  take  things  on 
truft.  But,  difmiffing  thefe  fanciful  theories, 
and  confidering  woman  as  a  whole,  let  it  be 
what  it  will,  inftead  of  a  part  of  man,  the  in- 
quiry is  whether  fhe  has  reafon  or  not.  If  fhe 
has,  which,  for  a  moment,  I  will  take  for  grant- 
ed, fhe  was  not  created  merely  to  be  the  folace 
of  man,  and  the  fcxual  fliould  not  deflroy  the  hu- 
man character. 

Into  this  error  men  have,  probably,  been  led  by 
viewing  education  in  a  falfe  light ;  not  confider- 
ing it  as  the  firft  flep  to  form  a  being  advanc- 
ing gradually  towards  perfection  J ;  but  only 
as  a  preparation  for  life.  On  this  fenfual  error^ 
for  I  mufl  call  it  fo,  has  the  falfe  fyftem  of  fe- 
male manners  been  reared,  which  robs  the  whole 
fex  of  its  dignity,  and  clalfes  the  brown  and  fair 
with  the  fmiling  flowers  that  only  adorns  the 
land.  This  has  ever  been  the  language  of  men, 
and  the  fear  of  departing  from  a  fuppofed  fexual 
character,    has   made   even  women  of  fuperiour 

fenfe 

*  '  The  brutes,'    fays  Lord  Monboddo,   *  remain   in  the  ftatc  in  which 

*  nature  has  piac»d   them,  except  in  fa   far  as  their  natural  inl\ini5l  is  inv- 

•  proved  by  the  culture  ivt  beftow  upon  them.' 

f  Vide  Milton. 

X  Till!  word  is  not  ftiiflly  juft,  hut  I  cannot  find  a  bttter. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  97 

fenfe  adopt  the  fame  fentiments*.  Thus  iinder- 
flanding,  flridly  fpeaking,  has  been  denied  to 
woman  ;  and  inflind:,  fublimated  into  wit  and 
cunning,  for  the  purpofes  of  Hfe,  has  been  fub- 
ilituted  in  its  ftead. 

The  power  of  generaHzing  ideas,  of  drawing 
comprehenfive  conclulions  from  individual  ob- 
iervations,  is  the  only  acquirement,  for  an  im- 
mortal being,  that  really  deferves  the  name  of 
knowledge.  Merely  to  obferve,  without  endea- 
vouring to  account  for  any  thing,  may  (in  a  very  ■ 
incomplete  m.anner)  ferve  as  the  common  fenfe  of 
life  ;  but  where  is  the  ilore  laid  up  that  is  to 
clothe  the  foul  when  it  leaves  the  body  ? 

This  pov/er  has  not  only  been  denied  to  wo- 
men ;  but  writers  have  infilled  that  it  is  incon^ 

fiftent, 

•  '  Pleafure-s  the  portion  of  th''  inferiour  kind  ; 

*  But  glory,  virtue,  Heaven  for  OTCwdefignM.' 

After  vrriting  tliefe  lines,  how  could  Mrs.  Barbauld  vtrritc  the  following 
fgnoble  comparifon  ? 

'  To  a  Lady,  luhhfome  pa'mted flowers.'' 

*  Flowers  to  the  fair  :  to  you  thcfe  flowers  I  bring, 

*  And  drive  to  greet  you  with  an  earlier  fpring. 

*  Floivers  twzzT,  and  gay,  ««i  delicate  like  YOU  jj 

*  Emblems  oj  innoctnciy  and  beauty  too. 

*  With  flowers  the  Graces  bind  iheir  yellow  hair, 
'  And  flowery  wreaths  conftnting  lovers  wear. 

'  Fhiuers,  tkefole  luxury  'which  nature  knevj^ 
'  In  Eden's  pure  and  guiltleis  garden  prew. 
'  To  loj tier  forms  are  rougher  tajks  affignd  ; 

*  Thejheltering  oak  rejijis  the  finrmy  nuind, 

*  The  tougher ye^uj  repels  invaditig  foes, 

'■  And  the  tall  fine  for  future  na'vies  groivs ; 

*  But  this  foft  family,  to  cares  unknonxin, 

*  Were  born  Jor pleafure  and  delight  ALONE, 

*  Gay  without  toil,  and  lovely  without  att, 

'  They  fpring  to  CHEER,  the  fenfe,  and  glad  the  hearty 

*  Nor  b!ufh,  my  fair,  to  own  you  copy  thefe  ; 

*  Tour  BEST, your  SWEETEST  empire  is — to  PLEASE.' 

So  the  men  tell  ns  ;  but  virtue  muft  be  acquired  by  reugb  toils,  and  u!<-} 
•ful  ftruggles  vs'itb  world! v  cares. 

G 


^8  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

liftent,  with  a  few  exceptions,  with  their  fexu^l 
charadler.  Let  men  prove  this,  and  I  fhall  grant 
that  woman  only  exill:s  for  man.  I  mufl:,  how- 
ever, previoufly  remark,  that  the  power  of  gen- 
erahzing  ideas,  to  any  great  extent,  is  not  very 
common  amongft  men  or  women*  Bat  this  ex- 
ercife  is  the  true  cultivation  of  the  undcrfland- 
ing  ;  and  every  thing  confpires  to  render  the  cuU 
tivation  of  the  underilanding  more  difficult  in  the 
female  than  the  male  world. 

I  am  naturally  led  hy  this  afTertion  to  the  main 
fubjedt  of  the  prefent  chapter,  and  fhall  now  at- 
tempt to  point  out  fome  of  the  caufes  that  degrade 
the  fex,  and  prevent  women  from  generalizing 
their  obfervations. 

-  I  fhall  not  go  back  to  the  remote  annals  of  an- 
tiquity to  trace  the  hiflory  of  woman  ^  it  is  fuf- 
ficient  to  allow  that  fhe  has  always  been  either  a 
Have,  or  a  defpot,  and  to  remark,  that  each  of 
thefe  lituations  equally  retards  the  progfefs  of 
reafon.  The  grand  fource  of  female  folly  and 
vice  has  ever  appeared  to  me  to  arife  from  nar- 
rownefs  of  mind  ;  and  the  very  conflitution  of 
civil  governments  has  put  almofl  infuperable  ob- 
flacles  in  the  way  to  prevent  the  cultivation  of  the 
female  underflanding  : — yet  virtue  can  be  built 
on  no  other  foundation  !  The  fame  obstacles  are 
thrown  in  the  way  of  the  rich,  and  the  fame 
confequences  enfue. 

Ncceffity  has  been  proverbially  termed  the 
mother  of  invention — the  aphorilm  may  be  ex- 
tended to  virtue.  It  is  an  acquirement,  and  an 
acquirement  to  which  pleafure  mufl  be  facrificed 
—and  who  facrifices  pleafure   v/lien  it  is  within 

•  the 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  99 

the  grafp,  whofe  mind  has  not  been  opened  and 
ftrengthened  by  adverlity,  or  the  purfuit  of  know- 
ledge goaded  on  by  necefiity  ? — Happy  is  it  when 
people  have  the  cares  of  hfe  to  flruggle  with  ; 
for  thefe  flruggles  prevent  their  becoming  a  prey 
to  enervating  vices,  merely  from  idlenefs  !  But, 
if  from  their  birth  men  and  women  are  placed  in 
a  torrid  zone,  with  the  meridian  fun  of  pleafure 
darting  directly  upon  them,  how  can  they  fuffi-' 
ciently  brace  their  minds  to  difcharge  the  duties 
of  life,  or  even  to  relifli  the  affections  that  carry 
them  out  of  themfelves  ? 

Pleafure  is  the  buiinefs  of  woman's  life,  ac- 
cording to  the  prefent  modification  of  fociety, 
and  while  it  continues  to  be  fo,  little  can  be  ex- 
peded  from  fuch  weak  beings.  Inheriting,  in 
a  lineal  defcent  from  the  firft  fair  defedt  in  na- 
ture, the  fovereignty  of  beauty,  they  have,  to 
maintain  their  power,  religncd  the  natural  rights, 
which  the  exercife  of  realon  might  have  procur- 
ed them,  and  chofen  rather  to  be  fliort-lived 
queens  than  labour  to  obtain  the  fober  pleafures 
that  arife  from  equality.  Exalted  by  their  infe- 
riority (this  founds  like  a  contradiction)  thev 
conflantly  demand  homage  as  women,  though  ex- 
perience iliould  teach  them  that  the  men  v/ho 
pride  themfelves  upon  paying  this  arbitrary  info- 
lent  refpedt  to  the  fex,  with  the  moil  fcrupulous 
exadncis,  are  moll:  inclined  to  tyrannize  over, 
and  defpife,  the  very  weaknefs  they  cheridi.  Oft- 
en do  they  repeat  Mr.  Hume's  fentiments ;  when, 
comparing  the  French  and  Athenian  character, 
he  alludes  to  women.  *  But  what  is  more  fingular 
*  in  this  whimfical  nation,  fw  I  to  the  Athenians, 
G  2  'is. 


160         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

*  is,  that  a  frolick  of  yours  during  the  Saturnalia, 

*  when  the  flaves  are  ferved  by  their  raafters,  is, 

*  ferioully,  continued  by  them  through  the  whole 

*  year,    and  through  the  whole   courfe   of  their 

*  lives  ;    accompanied   too  with  fome  circum- 

*  ftances,  which  ftill  further  augment  the  abfur- 

*  dity  and  ridicule.     Your  fport  only  elevates  for 

*  a  few   days   thofe  whom  fortune  has    thrown 

*  down,  and  whom  fhe  too,  in  fport,   may  really 

*  elevate    for  ever  above   you.     But  this  nation 

*  gravely  exalts  thofe,  whom  nature  has  fubjecfled 

*  to  them,  and    whofe  inferiority  and  infirmities 

*  are  abfolutely  incurable.     The  women,  though 

*  without  virtue,  are  their  mafters  and  fovereigns.* 

Ah  !  why  do  women,  I  write  with  affedlion- 
ate  folicitude,  condefcend  to  receive  a  degree  of 
attention  and  refpeft  from  flrangers,  different 
from  that  reciprocation  of  civility  which  the  dic- 
tates of  humanity  and  the  politenefs  of  civiliza- 
tion authorife  between  man  and  man  ?  And,  why 
do  they  not  difcover,  when  *  in  the  noon  of  beau- 
ty's power,'  that  they  are  treated  like  queens  on- 
ly to  be  deluded  by  hollow  refped:,  till  they  are 
led  to  refign,  or  not  afllime,  their  natural  pre- 
rogatives ?  Confined  then  in  cages  like  the  fea- 
thered race,  they  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  plume 
themfelves,  and  ftalk  with  mock  majefty  from 
perch  to  perch.  It  is  true  they  are  provided 
with  food  and  raiment,  for  which  they  neither 
toil  nor  fpin  ;  but  health,  liberty,  and  virtue,  are 
given  in  exchange.  But,  where,  amongft  man- 
kind has  been  found  fafficient  ilrenG^th  of  mind 
to  enable  a  being  to  refign  thcfc  adventitious  pre- 
rogatives ;  one  who,  rifing  with  the  calm  digni- 
ty 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  loi 

ty  of  reafon  above  opinion,  dared  to  be  proud  of 
the  privileges  inherent  in  man  ?  And  it  is  vain 
to  expedt  it  whilfl  hereditary  power  chokes  the 
aifedlions  and  nips  reafon  in  the  bud. 

The  paffions  of  men  have  thus  placed  women 
on  thrones,  and,  till  mankind  become  more  rea- 
fonable,  it  is  to  be  feared  that  women  will  avail 
themfelves  of  the  power  which  they  attain  with 
the  leaft  exertion,  and  which  is  the  moft  indif- 
putable.  They  will  fmile, — yes,  they  wdll  fmile, 
though  told  that — 

*  In  beauty's  empire  is  no  mean, 

*  And  woman,  either  flavc  or  queen, 

*  Is  quickly  fcorn'U  when  not  ador'd.' 

But  the  adoration  comes  firil,  and  the  fcorn  is 
not  anticipated, 

Lewis  the  XlVth,  in  particular,  fpread  fa6ti- 
tious  manners,  and  caught,  in  afpecious  way,  the 
whole  nation  in  his  toils  ;  for,  ellablifliing  an 
artful  chain  of  defpotifm,  he  made  it  the  interefl 
of  the  people  at  large,  individually  to  refpe'ft  his 
flation  and  fupport  his  pov/er.  And  women, 
whom  he  flattered  by  a  puerile  attention  to  the 
whole  fex,  obtained  in  his  reign  that  prince-like 
dilli nation  fo  fatal  to  reafon  and  virtue, 

A  king  is  always  a  king — and  a  woman  al- 
ways a  woman*  :  his  authority  and  her  fex,  ever 
ftand  between  them  and  rational  converfe.  With 
9  lover,  I  grant,  fhe  lliould  be  fo,  and  her  fenfi- 
bility  will  naturally  lead  her  to  endeavour  to  ex- 
cite emotion,  not  to  gratify  her  vanity,  but  her 
G  3  heart. 

*  And  a  wit,  always  a  wit,  might  be  added  ;  for  the  vain  fooleries  of 
wits  and  beauties  toobuio.utention;  and  make  conquers,  are  much  upon 


102         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

heart.     This    I   do  not  allow  to  be  coquetry,  if 
is  the   artlefs  impulfe  of  nature,  I    only  exclaim 
againft  the  fcxual    defire  of  conqueft  when  the 
heart  is  out  of  the  queftion. 

This  defire   is  not  confined  to  women  ;   '  I 

*  have  endeavoured,'  fays  Lord  Chcfteriield,    *  to 

*  gain  the  hearts  of  twenty  v/omen,    whofe  per- 

*  Ibns  I  would  not  have  given  a  fig  for.'  The 
libertine,  vrho,  in  a  gufl  of  pafiion,  takes  advan- 
tage of  unfufpedling  tendernefs,  is  a  faint  when 
compared  with  this  cold-hearted  rafcal  ;  for  I 
like  to  ufe  fignificant  words.  Yet  only  taught 
to  pleafe,  women  are  always  on  the  v/atch  to 
pleafe,  and  with  true  heroic  ardour  endeavour  to 
gain  hearts  merely  to  refign,  or  fpurn  them,  when 
the  vidtor}'  is  decided,  and  confpicuous. 

I  muft  defcend  to  the  minutis  of  the  fub- 
Jed. 

I  lament  that  \vcmen  arc  fyftematically  degrad- 
ed by  receiving  the  trivial  attentions,  which  men 
think  it  manly  to  pay  to  the  fex,  when,  in  fad,  they 
are  infiiltingly  fupporting  their  own  fuperiority, 
It  is  notcond_-fcenfion  to  how  to  an  inferiour.  So 
ludicrous,  in  fa(ft,  do  thefe  ceremonies  appear  to 
me,  that  I  fcarcely  am  able  to  govern  my  n^uf- 
cles,  when  I  fee  a  m.an  flart  with  eager,  and  feri- 
ous  folicitude  to  lift  a  handkerchief,  or  fliut  a 
door,  when  the  lady  could  have  done  it  herfelf, 
had  Hie  only  moved  a  pace  or  tv^'o. 

A  wild  wifh  has  jufl  flov/n  from  my  heart  to 
my  head,  and  I  w\\\  not  llifle  it  though  it  may 
excite  a  liorfe-laugh. — I  do  carneflly  wifh  to  fee 
the  diftindfion  of  lex  confounded  in  fociety,  un- 
Icls  where  love  animates  the  behaviour.    For  this 

diflindion 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  lo- 


^ 


diftirKftlon  is,  I  am  firmly  perfaaded,  the  founda- 
tion of  the  weaknefs  of  character  afcribed  to  wo- 
man ;  is  the  caufe  why  the  underilanding  is  ne- 
gleded,  whilft  accompHfhments  are  acquired 
with  fedulous  care :  and  the  fame  caufe  accounts 
for  their  preferring  the  graceful  before  the  heroic 
virtues. 

Mankind,  including  every  defcriptlon,  vvifh  to 
be  loved  and  refpecSted  iox  fomething ;  and  the  com- 
mon herd  will  always  take  the  neareft  road  to  the 
completion  of  their  wiilies.  The  refpecft  paid  to 
wealth  and  beauty  is  the  moft  certain,  and  une- 
quivocal y  and,  of  courfe,  will  ahvays  attradt  the 
vulgar  eye  of  common  minds.  Abilities  and  vir- 
tues are  abfolutely  necelfary  to  raifc  men  from  the 
middle  rank  of  life  into  notice  j  and  the  natural 
confequence  is  notorious,  the  middle  rank  con- 
tains moft  virtue  and  abilities.  Men  have  thus, 
in  one  ftation,  at  leaft,  an  opportunity  of  exerting 
themfelves  with  dignity,  and  of  rifmg  by  the  exer- 
tions v/hich  really  improve  a  rational  creature  ; 
liut  the  whole  female  fex  are,  till  their  charader 
is  formed,  in  the  fame  condition  as  the  rich  :  for 
they  are  born,  I  no.w  fpeak  of  a  ftate  of  civiliza- 
tion, with  certain  fexual  privileges,  and  whilit 
they  are  gratuitoufly  granted  them,  few  wdll  ever 
think  of  v/orks  of  fupererogation,  to  obtain  the 
tfteem  of  a  fmall  number  of  fuperiour  people. 

When  do  v/e  hear  of  women  who,  ftarting  out 
of  obfcurity,  boldly  claim  refpe(ft  oii  account  of 
their  great  abilities  or  daring  virtues  ?  Where  are 
they  to  be  found  ? — *  To  be  obferved,  to  be  at- 

*  tended  to,  to  be  taken  notice  of  with  fympathy, 

♦  complacency,  and  approbation,  are  all  theadvan- 

G  4  *  tages 


104         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

*  tages  v/hich  theyfeek.' — True  !  my  male  read- 
ers will  probably  exclaim  -,  but  let  them,  before 
they  draw  any  conclufion,  recoiled:  that  this  was 
not  written  originally  as  defcriptive  of  women, 
but  of  the  rich.  In  Dr.  Smith's  Theory  of  Mor- 
al Sentiments,  I  have  found  a  general  charader  of 
people  of  rank  and  fortune,  that,  in  my  opinion, 
might  with  the  greateff  propriety  be  applied  to 
the  female  fex.  I  refer  the  faoracious  reader  to  the 
whole  comparifon  ;  but  mull  be  allowed  to  quote 
a  paffage  to  enforce  an  argument  that  I  mean  to 
infifl  on,  as  the  one  moft  conclufive  againft  a  fcx- 
iial  chara-der.  For  if,  excepting  warriors,  no  great 
men,  of  any  denomination,  have  ever  appeared 
amongft  the  nobility,  may  it  not  be  fairly  inferred 
that  their  local  fituation  fwallowed  up  the  man, 
and  produced  a  character  fimilar  to  that  of  women, 
who  are  localized ,  if  I  may  be  allowed  the  word, 
by  the  rank  they  are  placed  in,  by  court efy  ?  Wo- 
men, commonly  called  Ladies,  are  not  to  be  con-- 
tradidled  in  company,  are  not  allowed  to  exert  any 
manual  ftrength  ;  and  from  them  the  negative  vir- 
tues only  are  expedied,  when  any  virtues  are  ex- 
pelled, patience,  docility,  good-humour,  and  flex- 
ibility ;  virtues  incompatible  with  any  vigorous 
exertion  of  intelledt.  Befides,  by  living  more 
with  each  other,  and  being  feldom  abfolutely  alone, 
they  are  more  under  the  influence  of  fentiments 
than  pafiions.  Solitude  and  refledion  arc  necef- 
fary  to  give  to  widies  the  force  of  paffions,  and  to 
enable  the  imagination  to  enlarge  the  objed,  and 
m.ake  it  the  mofl  defirable.  The  fame  may  be 
faid  of  the  rich  ;  they  do  not  fufliciently  deal  in 
general  ideas,  colleded  by  impaflioned  thinking, 

or 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  loj 

or  calm  invefligation,  to  acquire  that  flrength  of 
character  on  which  great  refoh'es  are  built.  But 
hear  what  an  acute  obferver  fays  of  the  great. 

*  Do  the  great  feem  infenfible  of  the  eafy  price 
'  at  which  they  may  acquire  the  publick  admira- 
<  tion ;  or  do  they  feem  to  imagine  that  to  them, 

*  as  to  other  men,  it  muil:  be  the  purchafe  either 

*  of  fweat  or  of  blood  ?  By  what  important  ac- 

*  complifhments  is  the  young  nobleman  inftrud:- 

*  ed  to  fupport  the  dignity  of  his  rank,  and  to  ren- 

*  der  himfelf  worthy  of  that  fuperiority  over  his 

*  fellow-citizens,  to  which  the  virtue  of  his  an- 

*  celtors  had  raifed  them  ?  Is  it  by  knowledge,  by 

*  induftry,  by  patience,  by  felf-denial,  or  by  virtue 

*  of  any  kind  ?  As  all  his  words,  as  all  his  motions 

*  are  attended  to,  he  learns  an  habitual  regard  to' 

*  every  circumftance  of  ordinary  behaviour,  and 

*  fludies  to  perform  all  thofe  fniall  duties  with 
Vthe  mofh  exa6t  propriety.     As  he  is  confcious 

*  how  much  he  is  obferved,  and  how  much  man- 

*  kind  are  difpofed  to  favour  all  his  inclinations, 

*  he  ad:s,  upon  the  moil  indifferent  occafions  with 

*  that  freedom  and   elevation  which  the  thought 

*  of  this  naturally  infpires.  His  air,  his  manner, 
'  his  deportment,  all  mark  that  elegant  and  grace- 
'  ful  fenfe  of  his    own   fuperiority,  which   thofe 

*  who  are  born  to  inferiour  flation  can  hardly  ever 

*  arrive  at.     Thefe  are  the  arts  by  which  he  pro- 

*  pofes  to  make  mankind  more  eafily  fubmit  to 

*  his  authority,  and  to  govern  their   inclinations 

*  according  to   his  own   pleafare  :  and  in  this  he 

*  is  feldom  difappointed.     Thefe  arts,  fupported 

*  by  rank  and  pre-eminence,  are,  upon  ordinary 
'  occafions^  fufiicient  to  govern  the  v/orld.    Levv- 

^  is 


ic6         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

*  is  XIV.  during   the  greater  part  of  his  reign* 

*  was  regarded,  not  only  in  France,  but  over  all 

*  Europe,  as  the  moil  perfedt  model  of  a  great 

*  prince.     But  what  were  the  talents  and  virtues 

*  by   which  he  acquired  this  great  reputation  ^ 

*  Was  it  by  the  fcrupulous  and  indexible  juftice 

*  of  all  his  undertakings,  hj  the  immenfe  dangers 

*  and  difficulties  with  which  they  v/ere  attended, 

*  or  by  the  unwearied  and  unrelenting  applica- 

*  tion  with  which  he  purfued  them  ?  Was  it  by 

*  his  extenlive  knowledge,  by  his  exquilite  judg- 

*  ment,  or  by  his  heroic  valour  ?  It  was  by  none 

*  of  thefe  qualities.     But  he  was,  firft  of  all,  the 

*  mod  powerful  prince  in  Europe,  and    confe- 

*  quently  held  the  higheft  rank  among  kiags  ; 

*  and  then,  fays  his  hifuorian,  **  he  furpallH  all 
**  his  courtiers  in  the  gracefulnefs  of  his  fliape, 
**  and  the  niajeftic  beauty  of  his  features.  The 
**  found  of  his  voice,  noble  and  affecting,  gained 
**  thofe  hearts  which  his  prefence  intimidated. 
"  He  had  a  ftep  and  a  deportment  which  could 
**  fuit  only  him  and  his  rank,  and  which  would 
*'  have  been  ridiculous  in  any  other  perfon.  The 
**  em.barraflinent  which  he  occafioned  to  thofe 
**  who  fpoke  to  him,  flattered  that  fecret  fatif- 
**  fadlon  with  which  he  felt  his  own  fuperiori- 
**  ty."     *  Thefe  frivolous  accomplifliments,  fup- 

*  ported  by  his  rank,  and,  no  doubt  too,  by  a  de- 

*  gree  of  other  talents  and  virtues,  which  feems, 

*  however,  not  to  have  been  much   above  medi- 

*  ocrity,  ellablifhcd  this  prince  in  the  efleem  of 

*  his  own  age,  and  have  drawn,  even  from    pof- 

*  terity,  a  good  deal  of  refpe6t  for  his   memory. 
'  Compared  with  thefe,  in  his  own  times,  and  jrt 

his 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  107 

*  his  own  prefence,  no  other  virtue,  it  feems,  ap- 

*  peared  to  have  any  merit.     Knowledge,  induf- 

*  try,   valour,  and  beneficence,    trembled,  were 

*  abafhed,  and  loll  all  dignity  before  them.' 

Woman  alio  thus  *  in  herfelf  complete,'  by 
polTefling  all  thele  frivolous  accomplifhments,  io 
changes  the  nature  of  things 

•  *  That  what  flie  wills  to  do  or  hy 


<  Seems  wifcft,  virtuoufeft,  difcreeteft,  beft  ; 

*  All  higher  knowledge  in  her  prefence  falls 
'  Degraded.     WiMom  in  difcourfe  with  her 

*  Lofes  difcountenanc'd,  and,  like  Folly,  (hows  ; 

*  Authority  and  Reafon  on  her  wait.*— 

And  all  this  is  built  on  her  lovelinefs  ! 

In  the  middle  rank  of  life,  to  continue  the 
comparifon,  men,  in  their  youth,  are  prepared  for 
profeliions,  and  marriage  is  not  confidered  as  the 
grand  feature  in  their  lives ;  Vx^hillt  women,  on 
the  contrary,  have  no  other  fchem.e  to  Iharpen 
their  faculties.  It  is  not  bufmefs,  exteniive 
plans,  or  any  of  the  excurfive  flights  of  ambition, 
that  engrofs  their  attention  ;  no,  their  thoughts 
are  not  employed  in  rearing  fuch  noble  flrusftures. 
To  rife  in  the  world,  and  have  the  liberty  of  run- 
ning from  pleafure  to  pleafure,  they  mull  marry 
advantageouily,  and  to  this  objed:  their  time  is 
facrificed,  and  their  perfons  often  legally  profti- 
tuted.  A  man  when  he  enters  any  profelllon  has 
his  eye  fteadily  fixed  on  Ibme  future  advantage 
(and  the  mind  gains  great  ftrength  by  having  all 
its  efforts  directed  to  one  point)  and,  full  of  his 
bufinefs,  pleafure  is  coniidered  as  mere  relaxation; 
whilft  wom.en  feek  for  pleaiure  as  the  main  pur- 
pofe  of  exigence,     In  fadt,  from  the  education, 

which 


lo3        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

■which  they  receive  from  fociety,  the  love  oP 
pleafure  may  be  Taid  to  govern  them  all  -,  but 
does  this  prove  that  there  is  a  fex  in  fouls  ?  It 
would  be  juil:  as  rational  to  declare  that  the  court- 
iers in  France,  when  a  deftrud:ive  fyflem  of  def- 
pGtifm  had  formed  their  character,  were  not  men, 
becaufe  liberty,  virtue,  and  humanity,  were  la- 
crificed  to  pleafure  and  vanity. — Fatal  paffions, 
which  have  ever  domineered  over  the  w/?ok  race  I 

The  fame  love  of  pleafure,  follered  by  the 
whole  tendency  of  their  education,  gives  a  tri- 
fiino:  turn  to  the  condud:  of  women  in  moft  cir- 
cumftances :  for  inftance,  they  are  ever  anxious 
about  fecondary  things  ;  and  on  the  watch  for 
adventures,  inflead  of  being  occupied  by  duties. 
'  A  man,  when  he  undertakes  a  journey,  has,  in 
general,  the  end  in  view;  a  Vv'oman  thinivs  more 
ct  the  incidental  occurrences,  the  ftrange  things 
that  m?y  poffibly  occur  on  the  road  ;  the  im- 
preiTion  that  (he  may  make  on  her  fellow-travel- 
lers ;  and,  above  all,  fhe  is  anxioufly  intent  on 
the  care  of  the  finery  that  (he  carries  with  her, 
which  is  more  than  ever  a  part  of  herfelf,  when 
going  to  figure  on  a  nev/  fcene  ;  v/hen,  to  ufe  an 
apt  French  turn  of  expreffion,  flie  is  going  to 
produce  a  feniation. — Can  dignity  of  mind  exift 
with  fuch  trivial  cares  ? 

In  fliort,  women,  in  general,  as  well  as  the  rich 
of  both  fexes,  have  acquired  all  the  follies  and 
vices  of  civilization,  and  miffed  the  ufeful  fruit. 
It  is  not  neceilary  for  me  always  to  premife,  that 
I  fpeak  of  the  condition  of  the  whole  fex,  leaving 
exceptions  out  of  the  queftion.  Their  fcnfes  are 
iniiimcd,    and   their    under  Handings    negledled,^ 

confequently 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  109 

confeqiiently  they  become  the  prey  of  their  fenf- 
es,  delicately  termed  lenfibility,  and  are  blowa 
about  by  every  momentary  gull  of  feeling.  They 
are,  therefore,  iii  a  much  worfe  condition  than 
they  would  be  in  were  they  in  a  ftate  nearer  ta 
nature.  Ever  reftlefsand  anxious,  their  over  ex- 
ercifed  feniibility  not  only  renders  them  uncom- 
fortable themfelves,  but  troublefome,  to  ufe  a 
foft  phrafe,  to  others.  All  their  thoughts  turn 
on  thines  calculated  to  excite  emotion  :  and  feel- 
ing,  when  they  Ihould  reafon,  their  condud:  is 
unftable,  and  their  opinions  are  wavering — not 
the  wavering  produced  by  deliberation  or  pro- 
greflive  views,  but  by  contradiiflory  emotions. 
By  fits  and  frarts  they  are  warm  in  many  purfuits  ; 
yet  this  warmth,  never  concentrated  into  perfe- 
verance,  foon  exhaufts  itfelf  -,  exhaled  by  its  own 
heat,  or  meeting  with  fome  other  fleeting  paf- 
lion,  to  which  reafon  has  never  given  any  fpeci- 
fic  gravity,  neutrality  enfucs.  Miierable,  indeed, 
mufl  be  that  beins:  whofe  cultivation  of  mind 
has  only  tended  to  inflame  its  pafTions !  A  dif- 
tincflion  fliould  be  made  between  inflaming  and 
ftrengthening  them.  Thepaflions  thus  pamper- 
ed, whilfi:  the  judgment  is  left  unformed,  what 
can  be  expedted  to  enfue  ? — Undoubtedly,  a 
mixture  of  madncfs  and  folly  ! 

This  obfervation  fliould  not  be  confined  to  the 
fair  fex ;  however,  at  preient,  I  only  mean  to  ap- 
ply it  to  them. 

Novels,  mufic,  poetry,  and  gallantry,  all  tend 
to  make  women  the  creatures  of  fenlation,  and 
their  charadber  is  thus  formed  during  the  time 
they  are  acquiring  accomplifliments,  the  only  im- 


provement 


no         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

provement  they  are  excited,  by  their  flation  in 
ibciety,  to  acquire.  This  oveiilretched  fenfibil- 
ity  naturally  relaxes  the  other  powers  of  the 
mind,  and  prevents  intellcfl  from  attaining  that 
fovereignty  which  it  ought  to  attain  to  render  a 
rational  creature  ufeful  to  others,  and  content 
with  its  own  Itation  :  for  the  exercife  of  the  un- 
derftanding,  as  life  advances,  is  the  only  method 
pointed  out  by  nature  to  calm  the  palHons. 

Satiety  has  a  very  different  effe(^"t,  and  I  have 
often  been  forcibly  flruck  by  an  emphatical  de- 
fcription  of  damnation  : — when  the  fpirit  is  re- 
prefented  as  continually  hovering  with  abortive 
eagernefs  round  the  defiled  body,  unable  to  enjoy 
any  thing  without  the  organs  of  fenie.  Yet,  to 
iheir  fenfes,  are  women  made  fiaves,  becaufe  it  is 
by  their  fenfibility  that  they  obtain  prpfent  power. 

And  will  moralifts  pretend  to  alfert,  that  this 
is  the  condition  in  which  one  half  of  the  human 
race  fhould  be  encouraged  to  remain  with  liftlefs 
jnadivity  and  ftupid  acquiefcence  ?  Kind  in- 
ftrudors  !  what  were  we  created  for  ?  To  remain, 
it  may  be  faid,  innocent  j  they  mean  in  a  flatc 
of  childhood. — We  might  as  well  never  have 
been  born,  unlefs  it  were  neceffary  that  we  /liould 
be  created  to  enable  man  to  acquire  the  noble 
privilege  of  reafon,  the  power  of  difcerning  good 
from  evil,  whilll  we  lie  down  in  the  duft  trom 
v/hence  we  were  taken,  never  to  rife  again. — 

It  would  be  an  endlels  taik  to  tra^e  the  variety 
of  meannelTes,  cares,  and  forrows,  into  which 
women  are  plunged  by  the  prevailing  opinion, 
that  they  were  created  rather  to  feel  than  reafon, 

and 


RIGHTS  OF  WOxMAN.  fii 

Hhd  that  all  the  power  they  obtain,  mull  be  ob-< 
tained  by  their  cliarms  and  weaknefs  : 

•  Fine  by  defefl,  and  amiably  weak  !' 

And,  made  by  this  amiable  weaknefs  entirely  de- 
pendent, excepting  what  they  gain  by  illicit 
Iway,  on  man,  not  only  for  prote(fl:ion,but  advice, 
is  it  furpriling  that,  negledting  the  duties  that 
reafon  alone  points  out,  and  fhrinking  from  trials 
calculated  to  ftrengthen  their  minds,  they  only 
exert  themfelves  to  give  their  defeats  a  graceful 
covering,  which  may  ferve  to  heighten  their 
charms  in  the  eye  of  the  voluptuary,  though  it 
link  them  below  the  fcale  of  moral  excellence  ? 

Fragile  in  every  fenfe  of  the  word,  they  are 
obliged  to  look  up  to  man  for  every  comfort. 
In  the  mofl  trifling  dangers  they  cling  to  their 
fupport,  with  parafitical  tenacity,  piteoully  de- 
manding fuccour  i  and  their  natural  protestor 
extends  his  arm,  or  lifts  up  his  voice,  to  guard 
the  lovely  trembler — from  what  ?  Perhaps 
the  frown  of  an  old  cow,  or  the  jump  of  a 
moufe  ;  a  rat,  would  be  a  ferious  danger.  In 
the  name  of  reafon,  and  even  common  fenfe, 
what  can  fave  fuch  beings  from  contempt ;  even 
though  they  be  foft  and  fair  ? 

Thefe  fears,  when  not  afFeded,  may  be  very 
pretty  ;  but  they  fhew  a  degree  of  imbecility  that 
degrades  a  rational  creature  in  a  way  women  are 
not  aware  of — for  love  and  efleem  are  very  dif- 
tindt  things. 

I  am  fully  perfuaded  that  we  fliould  hear  of 
none  of  thefe  infantile  airs,  if  girls  were  allowed  to 
take  fufficient  exercife^  and  not  confined  in   clofc 

rooms 


c 


112         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

•rooms  till  their  mufcles  are  relaxed,  and  their 
powers  of  digeftion  deftroyed.  To  carry  the  re- 
mark ilill  further,  if  fear  in  girls,  inftead  of  be- 
ing cheri£l:icd,  perhaps,  created,  was  treated  in 
the  fame  manner  as  cowardice  in  boys,  we  fliould 
quickly  fee  women  with  more  dignified  afpedts. 
It  is  true,  they  could  not  then  with  equal  pro- 
priety be  termed  the  fweet  flowers  that  fmile  in 
the  walk  of  man ;  but  they  would  be  more  re- 
fpedable  members  of  fociety,  and  difcharge  the 
important  duties  of  life  by  the  light  of  their  own 
reafon.  *  Educate  women  like  men,'  fays  Rouf- 
:feau,   '  and  the  miore  they  refemble  our  fex   the 

*  lefs  power  will  they  have  over  us.'  This  is 
the  very  point  I  aim  at.  I  do  not  wifli  them  to 
have  power  over  men  ;  but  over  themfelves. 

In  the  fame  ft  rain  have  I  heard  men  argue 
againft  inftru(fling  the  poor  ;  for  many  are  the 
forms    that  ariftocracy  ailumes.     '  Teach   them 

*  to  read  and  v/rite,'  fay  they,  *  and  you  take  them 

*  out  of  the  ftation  aiTigned  them  by  nature.' 
An  eloquent  Frenchman  has  anfwered  them,  I 
will  borrow  his  lentiments.  But  they  know 
not,  when  they  make  man  a  brute,  that  they 
may  expert  every  inftant  to  fee  him  transformed 
into  a  ferocious  beaft.  Without  knowledge  there 
can  be  no  morality ! 

Ignorance  is  a  frail  bafe  for  virtue  !  Yet,  that 
it  is  the  condition  for  which  woman  was  organ- 
ized, has  been  infifted  upon  by  the  writers  who 
have  moft  vehemently  argued  in  favour  of  the  fu- 
periority  of  man  ;  a  fuperiority  not  in  degree, 
but  efience  -,  though,  to  foften  the  argument, 
they    have   laboured  to    prove,    with  chivalrous 

generofity. 


^^IGHtS  OF  WOMAN.  113 

generofity,  that  the  fexes  ought  not  to  be  com- 
pared ;  man  was  made  to  reafon,  woman  to  feel ; 
and  that  together,  flefli  and  fpirit,  they  make  the 
moil  perfed  whole,  by  blending  happily  reafon 
and  fenfibility  into  one  charadier. 

And  what  is  fenfibility  ?  *  Quicknefs  of  fen- 
'  fation  i  quicknefs  of  perception  ;  delicacy.' 
Thus  is  it  defined  by  Dr.  Johnfon  ;  and  the  de- 
finition gives  me  no  other  idea  than  of  the  moflt 
exquifitely  poliflied  inftindl.  I  difcern  not  a 
trac^  of  the  image  of  God  in  cither  fenfation  or 
master.  Refined  feventy  times  feven,  they  arc 
ftill  material  5  intelled  dwells  not  there  ;  nor 
will  fire  ever  make  lead  gold  ! 

I  come  round  to  my  old  argument ;  if  woman 
be  allowed  to  have  an  immortal  foul,  flie  mufl 
have,  as  the  employment  of  life,  an  underftand- 
ing  to  improve.  And  when,  to  render  the  prc- 
fent  flate  more  complete,  though  every  thing 
proves  it  to  be  but  a  fradion  of  a  mighty  fum, 
ihe  is  incited  by  prefent  gratification  to  forget  her 
grand  deftination,  Nature  is  counteraded,  or  fhc 
was  born  only  to  procreate  and  die.  Or,  grant- 
ing brutes,  of  every  defcription,  a  foul,  though 
not  a  reafon  able  one,  the  exercite  of  inflind;  and 
fenfibility  may  be  the  ftep,  which  they  are  to 
take,  in  this  life,  towards  the  attainment  of  rea- 
fon in  the  next  j  fo  that  through  all  eternity  they 
will  lag  behind  man,  who^  why  we  cannot  tell, 
had  the  power  given  him  of  attaining  reafon  in 
his  firfl  mode  of  exiftence.  ;  •    - 

When  I  treat  of  the  peculiar  du^ti^s  of  women, 
aslfhould  treat  of  the  peculiar  duties  of  a  citizen 
or  father,  it  will  be  found  that  I  do  not  mean  to 
H  infinuatc 


114        VINDICATION  OF  TrfE 

iniinuate  that  they  fliould  be  taken  out  of  the>c 
families,  fpeaking  of  the  majority.    *  He  that  hath 

*  wife  and  children^'  fays  Lord  Bacon,  *  hath  giv- 

*  en  hoflages  to   fortune  ;    for  they  are  impedi- 

*  ments  to  great  enterprifes,  either  of   virtue  of 

*  mifchief.     Certainly   the  bell:  works,    and  of 

*  greateft  merit    for    the  public,  have  proceeded 

*  from  the  unmarried  or  childlefs  men/  I  fay 
the  fame  of  women.  But,  the  welfare  of  fociety 
is  not  built  on  extraordinary  exertions  ;  and  were 
it  more  reafonably  organized,  there  would  be 
flill  lefs  need  of  great  abilities,  or  heroic  vir- 
tues. 

In  the  regulation  of  a  family,  in  the  education, 
of  children,  underftanding,  in  an  unfophifticated 
fenfe,  is  particularly  required  :  fl:re'ngth  both  of 
body  and  mind  ;  yet  the  men  who,  by  their 
writings,  have  moft  earneftly  laboured  to  dbmef- 
ticatc  women,  have  endeavoured,  by  arguments 
did:ated  by  a  grofs  appetite,  that  fatiety  had  ren- 
dered faftidious,  to  weaken  their  bodies  and  cramp 
their  minds.  But,  if  even  by  thcfe  finifter  me-^ 
thods  they  really  perfiiaded  women,  by  working 
on  their  feelings,  to  ftay  at  home,  and  fulfil  the 
duties  of  a  mother  and  miftrefs  of  a  family,  I 
fhould  cautioufly  oppofe  opinions  that  led  wo- 
men to  right  condu(5t,  by  prevailing  on  them  to 
"make  the  dlfcharge  of  a  duty  the  bufinefs  of  life, 
though  reafon  were  infulted.  Yet,  and  I  appeal 
to  experience,  if  by  neglefting  the  underitanding 
they  are  as  much,  nay,  more  detached  from  thefe 
domeftic  duties,  than  they  could  be  by  the  moll 
ferious  intclledlual  purfuit,  though  it  may  be  ob- 
ferved  that  the  mafs  of  mankind  ^Vill"  never  vigor- 

oully 


kiGFltS  OF  WOiMAN;  tij; 

oufly  purfue  an  intelledlual  objed*,  I  may  be 
allowed  to  infer  that  reafon  is  abiblutely  neceffary 
to  enable  a  woman  to  perform  any  duty  properly, 
and  I  mufl  again  repeat,  that  fenfibility  is  not  rea- 
fon ^ 

The  comparifon  with  the  rich  jflill  occurs  to 
me ;  for,  when  men  negle(ft  the  duties  of  hu- 
manity, women  will  do  the  fame  ;  a  common 
flream  hurries  them  both  along  with  though  t- 
kfs  celerity.  Riches  and  honours  prevent  a  man 
from  enlarging  his  underftanding,  and  enervate 
all  his  powers  by  reverling  the  order  of  nature, 
which  has  ever  made  true  pleafure  the  reward  of 
labour.  Pleafure— -enervating  pleafure  is,  like- 
wife,  within  women's  reach  without  earning  it* 
But,  till  hereditary  polTeffions  are  fp read  abroad, 
how  can  we  expedt  men  to  be  proud  of  virtue  ? 
And,  till  they  are,  women  will  govern  them  by 
the  moll  dire(ft  means,  negledling  their  dull  do- 
meftic  duties  to  catch  the  pleafure  that  is  on  the 
wing  of  time. 

*  The  power  of  the  woman,*  fays  fome  author, 
*  is  her  fenfibility  /  and  men,  not  aware  of  the 
confequence,  do  all  they  can  to  make  this  power 
fwallow  up  every  other.  Thofe  who  conflantly 
employ  their  fenfibility  will  have  moft ;  for  ex- 
ample ;  poets,  painters,  and  compofers-f-.  Yet, 
when  the  fenfibilitv  is  thus  increafed  at  the  ex- 
penfe  of  reafon,  and  even  the  imagination,  why 
H  2  do 

*  Tlif  tnafs  of  mankind  are  rathet  ttie  flavss  of  their  appetites  than  of 
their  pafFiens. 

t  Men  of  thcfe  defcriptions  pour  it  into  their  compofitions,  to  amalga- 
mate the  grofs  materials  ;  and,  moulding  them  with  paflion,  give  to  the 
inert  body  a  foul  ;  but,  in  womtn's  iinnginaiicn,  lov«  alone  concentrate* 
diffr  ctii-rird  brams, 


ii6        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

do  philofophical  men  complain  of  their  fickle - 
nefs  ?  The  fexual  attention  of  man  particularly 
ads  on  female  fenfibility,  and  this  fympathy  has 
been  exercifed  from  their  youth  up.     A  huiband 
cannot  long  pay  thofe  attentions  with   the  paf- 
fion    neceffary    to  excite    lively   emotions,    and 
the  heart,    accuftomed  to  lively  emotions,  turns 
to  a  new   lover,  or  pines    in  fecret,    the  prey  of 
virtue  or  prudence.     I  mean  when  the  heart  has 
really    been  rendered   fufceptible,    and  the  tafte 
formed  3  for  I  am  apt  to  conclude,  from  what  I. 
have  feen  in  fadiionable  life,  that  vanity  is  oftener 
foftered  than  fenfibility  by  the  mode  of  educa- 
tion,  and   the   intercourfe    between    the    fexes,. 
which    I   have  reprobated  ;  and   that   coquetry 
more  frequently  proceeds  from  vanity  than  from 
that  inconflancy,    which   overftrairied  fenfibility 
naturally  produces. 

Another  argument  that  has  had  a  gfeat  weight 
with  me,  muft,  I  think,  have  fome  force  with 
every  confiderate,  benevolent  heart.  Girls  who 
have  been  thus  weakly  educated,  ^re  often  cruelly 
left  by  their  parents  without  any  provifion  ;  and, 
of  courfc,  are  dependent  on,  not  only  the  reafon, 
but  the  bounty  of  their  brothers.  Thefe  broth- 
ers are,  to  viev/  the  faireil:  fide  of  the  queflion, 
good  fort  of  men,  and  give  as  a  favour^  what  chil- 
dren of  the  fame  parents  had  an  equal  right  to. 
In  this  equivocal  humiliating  fituation,  a  docile 
female  may  remain  fome  time,  with  a  tolerable 
degree  of  comfort.  But,  when  the  brother  mar- 
ries, a  probable  circumflance,  from  being  confid- 
ered  as  the  miflrefs  of  the  family.  Die  is  viewed 
with  averted  looks  as  an  intruder,  an  unneceiTary 

burden 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  117 

burden  on   the  benevolence  of  th&mafler  of  the 
houfe,  and  his  new  partner.  .--c!  'fy 

Who  can  recount  the  mifery,  which  many  un- 
fortunate beings,  whofe  minds  and  bodies  are 
equally  weak,  iliffer  in  fuch  lituations — unable 
to  work,  and  alTiamedto  beg  ?  The  wife,  a  cold- 
hearted,  narrow-minded,  woman,  and  this  is  not 
an  unfair  fuppofition;  for  the  prefent  mode  of 
education  does  not  tend  to  efnlarge  the  heart  any 
more  than  the  underilanding,  is  jealous  of  the  lit- 
tie  kindnefs  which  her  hufband  fliews  to  his  re- 
lations ',  and  her  fenfibility  not  riiing  to  human- 
ity, fhe  is  difpleafed  at  feeing  the  property  of  her 
children  lavLihed  on:an  helplefs  fifter. 

Thefe  are  matters'  of  fad:,  which  have  come 
under  my  eye,  again  and  again.  The  confe- 
quence  is  obvious,  the  wife  has;  recourfe  to  Cun- 
ning to  undermine  th©  habitual  afl'ecftion,  'which 
fne  is  afraid  openly  to  oppofc'^  and  neither  tears 
nor  carefTes  are  fparcd  till  the  fpy  is  worked  out 
of  her  home,  and  thrown  on  the  world,  unpre- 
pared for  its  difficulties ;  drfent,  as  a  great  effort 
of  generofity,  cr  from  fome  regard  to  propriety, 
v/ith  a  fmall  ftipend,  and  an  uncultivated  mind, 
into  joylcfs  folitude. 

Thefe  two  v/omen  may  be  much  upon  a  par, 
with  refped  to  reafon  and  humanity ;  and  chang- 
ing fituations  might  have  a6led  iuft  the  fame  fclf- 
iOi  part  ;  but  had  they  been  differently  educated, 
the  cafe  would  alfo  have  been  very  different.  The 
wife  would  not  havchad  that  fenfibility,  of  which 
felf  is  the  centre,  and  reafon  might  have  taught 
her  not  to  exped,  and  not  even  to  be  flattered,  by 
^he  affedion  of  her  huiband,  if  it  led  him  to  vio-r 
H  -i  .  late 


ii3         VINDICATION  OF  TPIE 

late  prior  duties.  She  would  wifli  not  to  love 
him  merely  becaufe  he  loved  her,  but  on  accoimt 
of  his  virtues  ;  and  the  lifter  might  have  been 
able  to  ftruggle  for  herfelf  inftcad  of  eating  the 
bitter  bread  of  dependence. 
-M-.am,  indeed,  perfuaded  that  the  heart,  as  wcii 
as  the  underflanding,  is  opened  by  cultivation  '^ 
and  by,  which  may  not  appear  fo  clear,  ftrength* 
ening  the  organs  ;  I  am  not  now  talking  of  mo- 
mentary flafhes  of  fenfibility,  but  of  affedions. 
And,  perhaps,  in  the  education  of  both  fexes,  the 
moft  difficult  tafk  is  fo  to  adjuft  inftrudiion  as 
not  to  narrow  the  underftanding,  whilft  the  heart 
is  warmed  by  the  generous  juices  of  fpring,  juft 
raifed  by  the  eleftriq  fermentation  of  the  feafon  ; 
nor  to  dry  up  the  feelings  by  employing  the  mind 
in  inveftigations  remote  from  life. 

With  refpecSt  to  women,  when  they  receive. a 
careful  education,  they  are  either  made  fine  la- 
dies, brimful  of  fenfibility,  and  teeming  with 
capricious  fancies  ^  or  mere  notable  women.  The 
latter  are  often  friendly,  honeft  creatures,  and 
have  a  fhrewd  kind  of  good  knfc  joined  with 
worldly  prudence,  that  often  render  them  more 
ufeful  members  of  fociety  than  the  fine  fenti-: 
mental  lady,  though  they  poffefs  neither  great- 
nefs  of  mind  nor  tafte.  The  intelled:ual  world  is 
fhut  againil  them ;  take  them  out  of  their  fami- 
ly or  neighbourhood,  and  they  ftand  flill  -,  the 
mind  finding  no  employment,  for  literature  af- 
fords a  fund  of  amufement  which  they  have  never 
fought  to  rclirh,  but  frequently  to  defpife.  The 
fentiments  and  tafte  of  more  cultivated  minds  ap- 
pear ridiculous,  even  in  thofe  whom  chance  and 

family 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  119 

'family  connexions  have  led  them  to  love ;  but 
in  mere  acquaintance  they  think  it  all  affectation. 

A  man  of  fenfe  can  only  love  fuch  a  woman  on 
account  of  her  fex,  and  refped:  her,  becaufe  flic 
is  a  trufty  fervant.  He  lets  her,  to  preferve  his 
own  peace,  fcold  the  fervants,  and  go  to  church 
in  clothes  made  of  the  very  beft  materials.  A 
man  of  her  own  fize  of  underflanding  would, 
probably,  not  agree  fo  well  with  her  ;  for  he 
might  wifh  to  encroach  on  her  prerogative,  and 
manage  fome  domeftic  concerns  himfelf.  Yet 
women,  whofe  minds  are  not  enlarged  by  culti- 
vation, or  the  natural  felfifhnefs  of  fenfibility  ex- 
panded by  refietftion,  are  very  unfit  to  manage  a 
family  ;  for,  by  an  undue  ftretch  of  power,  they 
are  always  tyrannizing  to  fupport  a  fnperiority 
that  only  refts  on  the  arbitrary  diftin(5lion  of  for- 
tune. The  evil  is  fometimes  more  ferious,  and 
domeftics  are  deprived  of  innocent  indulgences, 
and  made  to  work  beyond  their  ftrength,  in  order 
to  enable  the  notable  woman  to  keep  a  better 
table,  and  outfliine  her  neighbours  in  finery  and 
parade.  If  (he  attend  to  her  children,  it  is,  in 
general,  to  drefs  them  in  a  coflly  manner — and, 
v/hether  this  attention  arifes  from  vanity  or  fpnd- 
nefs,  it  is  equally  pernicious. 

Befides,  ho^v  many  women  of  this,  defcription 
pafs  their  days  ;  gr,  at  leaf!;,  their  evenings,  dif- 
contentedly.  Their  huf^ands  acknowledge  that 
they  are  good  managers,  an4  chafle  wives  ;  but 
leave  home  to  leek  for  more  agreeable,  may  I  be 
allowed  to,  ufe  a  fignificant  French  word,  piqumit 
focjety  ;  and  the  patient  drudge,  who  fulfils  her 
\?A<y,  like  a  blind  hprfe  in  a  mill,  is  defrauded  of 
H  4  hei^ 


120        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

her  jujfl  reward  ;  for  the  wages  due  to  her  are  the! 
carefTes  of  her  hufband  ;  and  women  who  have  fo 
few  refources  in  themfelves,  do  not  very  patient- 
ly bear  this  privation  of  a  natural  right.    • 

A  fine  lady,  on  the  contrary,  has  been  taught 
to  look  down  with  contempt  on  the  vulgar  em- 
ployments of  life  ;  though  llic  has  only  been  in^ 
cited  to  acquire  accompliihments  that  rife  a  de- 
gree above  fenfe  ;  for  even  corporeal  accomplifh- 
ments  cannot  be  acquired  with  any  degree  of 
^recifion  unlefs  the  underftanding  has  been 
ftrengthened  by  exercife.  Without  a  foundation 
of  principles  tafle  is  fuperficial  j  and  grace  mufl 
arife  from  fomething  deeper  than  imitation.  The 
imagination,  however,  is  heated,  and  the  feelings 
rendered  faflidious,  if  not  fophifticated ;  or,  a 
counterpoife  of  judgment  is  not  acquired,  when 
the  heart  flill  remains  artlefs,  though  it  becomes 
too  tender, 

Thefe  v/omen  are  often  amiable  ;  and  their 
hearts  are  really  more  fenfible  to  general  benevo- 
lence, more  alive  to  the  fentiments  that  civilize 
Yifc,  than  the  fquare-elbovvxd  family  drudge ;  but, 
wanting  a  due  proportion  of  reflection  and  felf- 
government,  they  only  infpire  love  ;  and  are  the 
milbeffes  of  their  hufbands,  whilft  they  have 
any  hold  on  their  affedions ;  and  the  platonic 
friends  of  his  male  acquaintance.  Thefe  are  the 
fair  defeats  in  nature  ;  the  women  who  appear  to 
be  created  not  to  enjoy  the  fellowship  of  man, 
but  to  fave  him  from  finking  into  abfolute  bru- 
tality, by  rubbing  off  the  rough  angles  of  his 
character  ;  and  by  playful  dalliance  to  give  feme 
dignity  to  the  appetite  that  draws  liim  to  them. 

Gracious 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  121 

Gracious  Creator  of  the  whole  human  race  !  haft 
thou  created  fuch  a  being  as  woman,  who  can 
trace  thy  wifdom  in  thy  works,  and  feel  that  thoa 
alone  art  hy  thy  nature,  exalted  above  her, — for 
no  better  purpofe  ?• — Can  fhe  believe  that  flie 
was  only  made  to  fubmit  to  man,  her  equal  ;  a 
being,  who,  like  her,  was  fent  into  the  world  to 
acquire  virtue  ? — Can  (lie  confent  to  be  occupied 
merely  to  pleaie  him  ;  merely  to  adorn  the  earth, 
when  her  foul  is  capable  of  riling  to  'Jhee  ? — And 
can  ilie  reft  fupinely  dependent  on  man  for  rea- 
fon,  when  (lie  ought  to  mount  with  him  the  ar- 
duous fteeps  of  knowledge  ?— 

Yet,  if  "love  be  the  fupreme  good,  let  women 
be  only  educated  to  infpire  it,  and  let  every  charm 
be  poliftied  to  intoxicate  the  fenfes  ;  but,  if  they 
are  moral  beings,  let  them  have  a  chance  to  be-r 
come  intelligent  ;  and  let  love  to  man  be  only  a 
part  of  that  glowing  flame  of  univerfal  love, 
which,  after  encircling  humanity,  mounts  in 
grateful  incenfe  to  God. 

To  fulfil  domeftic  duties  much  refolutlon  is 
iieceiTary,  and  a  ferious  kind  of  perfeverance  that 
requires  a  more  firm  fupport  than  emotions,  how- 
ever lively  and  true  to  nature.  To  give  an  exam- 
ple of  order,  the  foul  of  virtue,  fome  aufterity  of 
behaviour  muft  be  adopted,  icarcely  to  be  expect- 
ed from  a  being  who,  from  its  infancy,  has  been 
made  the  weathercock  of  its  own  fenfations. 
Whoever  rationally  means  to  be  ufeful  muft  have 
a  plan  of  conduct ;  and,  in  tlie  difcharge  of  the 
fimpleft  duty,  we  are  often  obliged  to  adt  con- 
trary to  the  prefcnt  impulfe  of  tcndernefs  or  com- 
pafTion.      Severity  is  frequcntlv  the  moil  certain, 

as 


122         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

as  well  as  the  moft  fublitne  proof  of  affedion  ; 
and  the  want  of  this  power  over  the  feelings,  and 
of  that  lofty,  dignified  affedtion,  which  makes 
a  perlbn  prefer  the  future  good  of  the  beloved 
©bjedt  to  a  prefent  gratification,  is  the  reafon  why 
ib  many  fond  mothers  fpoii  their  children,  and 
has  made  it  queflionable  whether  negligence  or 
indulgence  is  mod  hurtful  :  but  I  am  inclined 
to  think,  that  the  latter  has  done  moil  harm. 

Mankind"  feem  to  agree  that  children  iliould 
be  left  under  the  manaoement  of  women  durins 
their  childhood.  Now,  from  all  the  obfervation 
that  I  h<ive  been  able  to  make,  Vv^omen  of  fenli^ 
bility  are  the  mofl:  unfit  for  this  tailc,  becaufc 
they  will  infallibly,  carried  away  by  their  feelings, 
Ipoil  a  child's  temper.  The  management  of  the 
temper,  the  iirfl,  and  moil  important  branch  of 
education,  requires  the  fober  {leady  eye  of  rea- 
fon ;  a  plan  of  condud:  equally  diftant  from  ty- 
ranny and  indulgence  :  vet  thefe  are  the  extremes 
that  people  of  fenfibility  alternately  fall  into  ;  al - 
ways  lliooti ng  beyond  the  mark.  I  have  follow- 
ed this  train  of  reafoningmuch  further,  till  I  have 
concluded,  that  a  perfon  of  genius  is  the  moll 
improper  perfon  to  be  employed  in  education, 
public  or  private.  Minds  of  this  rare  fpecies  fee 
things  too  much  in  qiafics,  and  fcldom,  if  ever, 
have  a  good  temper.  That  habitual  cheerful-r 
nefs,  termed  good-humour,  is,  perhaps,  as  felr 
dom  united  with  great  mental  powers,  as  with 
ilrong  i'eelings.  And  thofe  people  who  follow, 
with  intereft  and  admiration,  the  flights  of  ge- 
nius j  or,  with  cooler  approbation  fuck  in  the 
inllrudtJon  which  has    been   elaborately  prepared 

for 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  123 

for  them  by  the  profound  thinker,  ought  not  to 
be  difgufted,  if  they  find  the  former  choleric,  and 
the  latter  morofe  ;  becaufe  livelinefs  of  fancy, 
and  a  tenacious  comprehenfion  of  mind,  are 
fcarcely  compatible  with  that  pliant  urbanity 
AV'hich  leads  a  man,  at  leaft,  to  bend  to  the  opin- 
ions and  prejudices  of  others,  inflead  of  roughly 
confrontinsr  them. 

But,  treating  of  education  or  manners,  minds 
of  a  fuperior  clafs  are  not  to  be  confidered,  they 
may  be  left  to  chance  ;  it  is  the  multitude,  with 
moderate  abilities,  who  call  for  inftrudion,  and 
catch  the  colour  of  the  atmofphere  they  breathe. 
This  fefpeftahle  concourfe,  I  contend,  men  and 
women,  lliould  not  have  their  fenfations  height- 
ened in  the  hot-bed  of  luxurious  indolence,  at 
the  expenfe  of  their  underftanding  ;  for,  unlefs 
there  be  a  ballafl:  of  underflanding,  they  v/ill 
never  become  either  virtuous  or  free  :  anarifloc- 
racy,  founded  on  property,  or  fterling  talents, 
will  ever  fweep  before  it,  the  alternately  timid, 
and  ferocious.  Haves  of  feeling. 

Numberlefs  are  the  arguments,  to  take  another 
view  of  the  fubjedl,  brought  forward  with  a  ihew 
of  reafon  :  becaufe  fuppofed  to  be  deduced  ft'om 
nature,  that  men  have  ufed  morally  and  phylical- 
ly,  to  degrade  the  fex.     I  muil  notice  a  few. 

The  female  underitanding  has  often  been  fpok- 
en  of  with  contempt,  as  arriving  fooner  at  ma- 
turity than  the  male.  I  fliall  not  anlvver  this 
argument  by  alluding  to  the  early  proofs  oi'  rea- 
fon, as  well  as  genius,  in  Cowley,  Milton,  and 
Pope*,  but  only  appeal  to  experience  to  decide 
^vhcther  young  men,  who   are   curly    introduced 

into 

*  M'.ny  other  r.njnes  n.;=ht  be  ad4:Ut 


124         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

into  company  (and  examples  now.  abound)  do 
not  acquire  the  fame  precocity.  So  notorious  is 
this  fa6l,  that  the  bare  mentioning  of  it  muft 
bring  before  people,  who  at  all  mix  in  the  world, 
the  idea  of  a  number  of  fwaggering  apes  of  men, 
whofe  underftandings  are  .narrowed  by  being 
brought  into  the  fociety  of  men  when  tliey  ought 
to  have  been  fpinning  a  top  or  twirling  a  hoop. 

It  has  alfo  been  aiierted,  by'  fome.  naturalills, 
that  men  do  not  attain  their  full  growth  and 
f^rength  till  thirty  -,  but  that,  women  arrive  at 
maturity  by  twenty.  I  apprehend  that  they  rea- 
fon  on  falfe  ground,  led  ailray  by  the  male  pre- 
judice, which  deems  beauty  thi  perfecflion  of 
woman — mere  beauty  of  features  ajid  complex- 
ion, the  vulgar  acceptation  of  the  word,  wbilft 
male  beauty  is  allowed  to  have  fome  conneiftion 
with  the  mind.  Strength  of  body,.,  and  that 
character  of  countenance,  Vvhich  the  French 
ttrvA  2.  phyJiG720jn:e,  women  do  not  acquire  ibeforc 
thirty,  any  more  than  men.  The  little  artlefs 
tricks  of  children,  it  is  true,  are.. particularly 
pleafmg  and  attradive  ;  yet,  when  the  pretty 
frellmefs  of  youth  is  worn  off,  thefe  artlefs  graces 
become  iludied  airs,  and  difguft  every  perfon  of 
tafte.  In  the  countenance  of  girls  we  only  look 
for  vivacity  and  bafhful  modefly  ;  but,  the  fprin.g- 
tide  of  life  over,  we  look  for  Ibberer  fenfe  in  the 
face,  and  ft>r  traces  of  pafTion,  inftead  of  the  dim- 
ples of  animal  fpirits  ;  expev^ting  to  fee  individ- 
uality of  charadter,  the  only  faftener  of  the  af- 
fedions  "■^•.     We    then  wilh  to  converfe,  not  to 

fondle  ; 

•  The  ftrcr^tli  of  an  nffef^fcn  i«.  geneially.in  the  fam?  proportion  ss 
xhe  clniiasrof  the  tpecies  m  ilie  objch  belaveJ,  is  la.il  in  thai  ol  ll;e  m<l'i-. 
viiiua). 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN,,         125 

fondle  ;  to  give  fcope  to  our  imaginations  as  well 
ars  to  the  fenfations  of  our  hearts. 

At  twenty  the  beauty  of  both  fexes  is  equal  ; 
but  the  libertinifm  of  man  leads  him  to  make  the 
diftindion,  and  fuperannuated  coquettes  are  com- 
monly of  the  fiime  opinion  ;  for,  when  they  can 
no  longer  infpire  love,  they  pay  for  the  vigour 
and  vivacity  of  youth.  The  French,  who  admit 
more  of  mind  into  their  notions  of  beauty,  give 
the  preference  to  women  of  thirty.  I  mean  to 
fay  that  they  allow  v/omen  to  be  in  their  moft 
perfect  ftate,  when  vivacity  gives  place  to  reafon, 
and  to  that  majeilic  ferioufnefs  of  charad:er,  which 
marks  maturity  -, — or,  the  refting  point.  In 
youth,  till  twenty,  the  body  (hoots  out,  till  thir- 
ty the  folids  are  attaining  a  degree  of  denfity  ; 
and  the  flexible  mufcles,  growing  daily  more 
rigid,  give  charafter  to  the  countenance  ;  that  is, 
they  trace  the  operations  of  the  mind  with  the 
iron  pen  of  fate,  and  tell  us  not  only  what  pow- 
ers are  within,  but  how  they  have  been  employ- 
ed. 

It  is  proper  to  obferve,  that  animals  who  ar- 
rive flowly  at  maturity,  are  the  longeft  lived,  and 
of  the  nobleil  fpecies.  Men  cannot,  however, 
claim  any  natural  fuperiority  from  the  grandeur 
of  longevity  ;  for  in  this  refpect  nature  has  not 
diftinguiihed  the  male. 

Polygamy  is  another  phyfical  degradation  ; 
and  a  plaufible  argument  for  a  cuflom,  that  blafts 
evfery  domeHic  virtue,  is  .drawn  from  the  vvell- 
attefted  fa<5c,  that  in  the  countries  where  it  is 
eftabliflied,  more  females  are  born  than  males. 
This  appears  to  be  an  indication   of  nature,   and 

tp 


126         VlNDIGATION  OF  THE 

to  nature,  apparently  reafonable  fpeculations  mufi 
yield.  A  further  conclufion  obvioufly  prefented 
itlclf ;  if  polygamy  be  neceflary,  woman  muft  be 
inferiour  to  man,  and  made  for  him. 

With  refpedt  to  the  formation  of  the  fcEtus  in 
the  womb,  we  are  very  ignorant  -,  but  it  appears 
to  me  probable,  that  an  accidental  phylical  caufe 
may  account  for  this  phenomenon,  and  prove  it 
not  to  be  a  law  of  nature.  I  have  met  with  fome 
pertinent  obfervations  on  the  fubjeft  in  Forfter's 
Account  of  the  Ifles  of  the  South-Sea,  that  will 
explain  my  meaning.  After  obferving  that  of 
the  two  fexes  amongft  animals,  the  mofl  vigorous 
pjid  fiery  conftitution  always  prevails,  and  pro- 
duces its  kind  ;  he  adds, — *  If  this  be  applied  to 

*  the  inhabitants  of  Africa,  it  is  evident  that  the 

*  men  there,  accuftomed  to  polygamy,  are  ener- 

*  vated  by  the  ufe  of  fo  many  women,  and  there- 

*  fore  lefs  vigorous ;  the  women,  on  the  contra- 

*  ry,  are  of  a  warmer  conftitution,  not  only  on 
'  account  of  their  more  irritable  nerves,  more  kn- 

*  fible  organization,  and  more  lively  fancy  3  but 

*  likewife  becaufe  they  are  deprived  in  their  ma- 

*  trimony  of  that  Ihare  of  phyfical  love  which,  in 
'  a  monogamous  condition,  would  all  be  theirs  ; 

*  and   thus,  for  the  above  reafons,   the  generality 

*  of  children  are  born  females.' 

*  In  the  greater  part  of  Europe  it  has  been 

*  proved  by  the  mofl  accurate  lifts  of  mortality, 
'  that  the  proportion  of  men  to  women  is  nearly 

*  equal,  or,  if  any  difference  takes  place,  the  males 

*  born  arc  more  numerous,   in  the  proportion  of 


105  to  100, 


The 


RIGHTS  OF  WQxMAN.  127 

'The  necefiity  of  polygamy,  therefore,  does  net 
appear  ;  yet  when  a  inan  feduces  a  woman,  it 
ihould,  I  think,  be  termed  a  left-handed  marriage, 
and  the  man  flioiild  be  legally  obliged  to  maintain 
the  woman  and  her  children,  unlefs  adultery,  a 
natural  divorcement,  abrogated  the  law.  And 
this  law  {liould  remain  in  force  as  long  as  the 
Iveaknels  of  women  caufed  the  word  fedudion  ta 
be  ufed  as  an  excufe  for  their  frailty  and  want  of 
principle  ;  nay,  while  they  depend  on  man  for  a 
iubfiftence,  inftead  of  earning  it  by  the  exertioa 
of  their  own  hands  or  heads.  But  thefe  women 
Ihould  not,  in  the  full  meaning  of  their  relation- 
ihip,  be  termed  wives,  or  the  very  purpofe  of  mar- 
riage would  be  fubverted,  and  all  thofe  endear- 
ing charities  that  flow  from  perfonal  fidelity,  and 
give  a  fanclity  to  the  tie,  when  neither  love  no? 
friendship  unites  the  hearts,  would  melt  into 
felfilhncfs.  The  woman  who  is  faithful  to  the 
father  of  her  children  demands  refpe'fl,  and  ihould 
not  be  treated  like  a  proftitute  ;  though  I  readi- 
ly grant  that  if  it  be  neceffary  for  a  man  and  wo- 
man to  live  together  in  order  to  bring  up  their 
offspring,  nature  never  intended  that  a  man^bould 
have  more  than  one  v/ife. 

Still,  highly  as  I  refpedl  marriage,  as  the  found- 
ation of  almoft  every  focial  virtue,  I  cannot  avoid 
feeling  the  moil  lively  companion  for  thofe  un- 
fortunate females  who  are  broken  off  from  focie- 
ty,  and  by  one  error  torn  from  all  thofe  affecflions 
and  rclationfiiips  that  improve  the  heart  and 
mind.  It  does  not  frequently  even  deferve  the 
name  of  error  ;  for  many  innocent  girls  become 
the  dupes  of  a  fincere  afFcdtionate  heart,    and  ilill 

more  . 


128         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

more  are,  as  it  may  einphatically  be  termed,  ru-- 
incd  before  they  know  the  difTerence  between  vir- 
tue and  vice  : — and  thus  prepared  by  their  edu- 
cation for  infiimy,  they  become  infarnous.  Afy- 
lums  and  Magdalens  are  not  the  proper  renacdies 
for  thefc  abules .  It  is  juftice,  not  charity,  that 
is  wanting  in  the  world  ! 

A  woman  who  has  loft  h>er  honour,  ima^iijes 
that  fhe  cannot  fall  lower,  and  as  for  recovering 
her  former  ftation,  it  is  impolhble  ;  no  exertion 
can  waih  this  {lain  away.  Loiing  thus  every 
fpur,  and  having  no  other  means  of  fupport, 
proftitution  becomes  her  only  refuge,  and  the 
charadter  is  quickly  depraved  by  circumflances 
over  which  the  poor  wretch  has  little  power, 
unlefs  fhe  poii'eiTes  an  uncommon  portion  of  fenfe 
and  loftinefs  of  fpirit.  NecciTity  never  makes 
proflitution  the  bulincfs  of  men's  lives  ;  though 
numberlefs  are  the  women  who  are  thus  rendered 
fyftematically  vicious.  This,  however,  arifes, 
in  a  great  degree,  from  the  flate  of  idlenefs  in 
which  women  are  educated,  who  are  always 
taught  to  look  up  to  man  for  a  maintenance,  and 
to  confider  their  perfons  as  the  proper  return  for 
his  exertions  to  fuppart  them.  Meretricious 
airs,  and  the  whole  fcience  of  wantonnefs,  has 
then  a  more  powerful  ftimulous  than  either  ap- 
petite or  vanity;  and  this  remark  gives  force  to 
the  prevailing  opinion,  that  with  chaflity  all  is 
loll  that  is  refpcdable  in  woman..  Her  charac- 
ter depends  on  the  lobfcrvance  of  p.ne  virtue, 
though  the  only  pajTion  foftered  in  her  heart — is 
love.  Nay,  the. honour  of  a  woman  is  not  made 
even  to  dcpead  on  her,\vill. 

When 


RKHjrs  OR  WOMAN.  12,9 

■When  Richax-dfoa  *  makes, -QlariiTa  tell  I^avcr- 
lace  tbat  he  had  robbed  her  :o£  her  honour,. :-np 
n:iufl;:h^ye  had  ftrange  notiops  of  honour  an d;;f ir- 

Sj^{  'j¥pi'}3  m}(sji&]pWhcyond  all  na^e?  of  ^iispjr 
16  't^  condit\q\[\^fik  ht'mg;  .-/V/li^j  cpiilclf.be^^.'- 
gra^ed  without  its: own  coniem  I  This  excefs  ;()£ 
(tFi(^ne4s.I  ha-yiq:i,fce3,r£l' v,indrcate4'qs  a  £.ilatary  er- 
ror* J'  fliall.  an6^er-,§r\  :^t^  ^\^9f?:^s^^,9f  1^^ 
'  Hrrof5  are  often  ufefwl  ;  bui  hi%x;p\r\mg^ly-^po 

;|j<?m€dy  other  errors/     ,     ;  ^^:;(\i   vr    .,    /j./i/jF': 
'  Moit:  of  the  evUs;  pf  }ifc  ^riife  from   a^^rejfjf 

prelcnt     enjoyriieaj'- tha|/-pa,t;&iy^^  iit;f4frV:  ^kp 
obe^i^nce  required'  of  wOiTrlevnr  in    thv  marriage 
ik^t^.  :  comes    under   thi^  dei\Tipj3>9«  > ,  the  mind 
1)^t:qr.::il.iy  wei^fceried  by  depen^M^igi  9!^'^-  J^vit^ority, 
Afievef  exerts,  its  own  ,  powers,  .  and .  the   ohe^j^t 
\vif<2.{s  thus  ren(kredt^,weakjn4ol0;itimo^her<  •  Or, 
-fop pdflng  thr^t  this  is  -no^  al?r.fays  itjb,e  eoj^l^qjiienp^, 
■ra- future  li^tG  0fexiftei;iGe  is  fcarcely  taken   intp 
the  reckoning  wheit only  negat^fA'ktu^s  are;c^l- 
tivateid.     Fory  iri  tr^a.ting  of  rnorals,  par  titular  lb/- 
whefi  .'women,  are  allad^4  to,  writep  have  too  oft- 
en coiifidcred  virt^fb'i-^  a-'V^y;)i«iited  fenfe,    and. 
uiadc  (lie  fou ndation  ; of  it  /s/c/jf ; porldly  utility  ; 
riay,  a  rtill  more  fragilebafe  has  been  given  to  this 
Itupendous  fabric,,  and   the  wayward  flucTiuatir^g 
teelings(  of  men  have  been  made  the  ftandard   of 
virtue.      Yes,  virtue  as  well  as  religion,  has  been 
fubje(5ted  to  the  decifions  of  talte. 

It  would  almcft  provoke  a  fmile  of  contempt, 
if  the  y^in  abfurdities  of  man  did  not  ftrike  us  oh 
all  fides,  to  obferve,  how  eager  men  are  to  degrade 

I  the 

*  P'-.  Yciing  fupports  flie  famp  opihioh,  in  his  play?,  when   he   talks  of 
the  nrisfortiine  iha'  fli tinned  the  ii^lit  of  d:iy. 


^^^        VINDICATION  OF  TflE 

tlic  {ex  from  whom  they  pretend  to  rccei\"e  the 
chief  pleafure  of  life  j  and  I  have  frequently  with 
full  fjonvidi-oii  retoi'ted  Pope's  fareafm  on  them  ; 
or,  to  fpeak  explicitly,  it  ha3  appeared  to-  mc  ap- 
pUc^bl^  to  the  whole  humaii  race;  A  love  of 
pleafure  or  fway  feems  to  divi<ie  tnankind,  and  the 
hnfband  who  lords  it  In  his  little  haram  thinks 
'Ou\y  of  his  pleallire  or  his  eonvehienee.  To  fuch 
'lengths,  indeed,  does  an  intemperate  love "  of 
pleafure  carry  fome  prudent  men,  or  worn  out 
libertines,  who  marry  to  have  a^  iafe  bed-fellow, 
that  they  ieduce  thek  own  wives'.'— Hymen  bari- 
ifhes  modefliy,  and  ehafte  love  takes  its  flight. 

Love,  confidered  as  an  animal  appetite,  cannot 
^l^h'g  feed   orr  Mali'  without  expiring.     And  this 
"toin(flron,  in  hs  own  flarae,  may  be  termed  the 
Violent  death  of  love.     But    the*  wife  who  has 
thus  been  rendered  licentious,  will  probably  ert- 
deavouT  to  fill  the  void  left    by  the   lofs^  of  her 
hufl:)and's   attentions  ;  for  fhe  eah'not  contented- 
'ly  become  merely  an  upper  fer van t  after  havin-g 
been  treated  like  a  cioddefs.     Slic   is  ftill  hand- 
'fome,  and,  inffead  of  transferring  her  fondnefs  to 
"  her  childreiT,   Uw  only  dre?ams  of  enjoying  the 
funfhine   of  Vifc,     Beiides,  there  are  many  huf- 
bands   fo  devoid  of  fenfe  and  parental  affedtion,. 
that  during  th=e  firft  effervefcence  of  voluptuous 
fondnefs  they  refufe  to  le!  their  wives  fuckle  therr 
children.     They   are   only    to   drefs  and  live  to 
pleafe  them. :  and  love — even  innocent  love,  foon 
iinks  into  lafcivioufnefs,  when    the  exercife  of  a 
duty  is  facriiiced  to  its  indulgence. 

Perfonal  attachment    is    a  very  happy  founda- 
tion for  fricndlliip  ;  yet,  when-  even  two  virtuou5^ 

young 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  131 

Voung  people  marry,  it  would,  perhaps,  be  hap- 
py if  fome  circumftances  checked  their  painon  ; 
if  the  recolledion  of  fome  prior  attachment,  or 
difippointed  affetftion,  made  it  on  one  fide,  at 
lead,  rather  a  match  founded  on  efteem.  In  that 
cafe  they  would  look  beyond  the  prefent  moment, 
and  try  to  render  the  whole  of  life  refpediable, 
by  forming  a  plan  to  regulate  a  friendlhip  which 
only  death  ought  to  diflblve. 

Friendfhip  is  a  ferious  affedion  ;  the  moil  fu- 
blime  of  all  affcdions,  becaufe  it  is  founded  011 
principle,  and  cemented  by  time*  The  very  re- 
verfe  may  be  faid  of  love.  In  a  great  degree,  love 
and  friendfhip  cannot  fubfift  in  the  fame  bofom  ; 
even  when  infpired  by  different  objecfcs  they  v/eak- 
en  or  deilroy  each  other,  and  for  the  fame  obje»5t 
can  only  be  felt  in  fucceffion-  The  vain  fears 
and  fond  jealoulies,  the  winds  which  fan  the 
flame  of  love,  when  judicioufly  or  artfully  tem- 
pered, are  both  incompatible  with  the  tender 
confidence  and  fmcere  refped:  of  friendlhip. 

Love,  fuch  as  the  glowing  pen  of  genius  has 
traced,  exifts  not  on  earth,  or  only  refides  in  thofe 
exalted,  fervid  imaginations  that  have  flcetched 
fuch  dangerous  pidlures.  Dangerous,  becaufe 
they  not  only  afford  a  plaufible  excufe,  to  the 
voluptuary  who  difguifes  flieer  fenfuahty  under  a 
fentimental  veil  ;  but  as  they  fpread  affcdation, 
and  take  from  the  dignity  of  virtue.  Virtue,  as 
the  very  word  imports,  fhould  have  an  appear^ 
ance  of  ferioufnefs,  if  net  auflerity  j  and  to  en- 
deavour to  trick  her  out  in  the  garb  of  pleafure, 
becaufe  the  epithet  has  been  ufed  as  another  name 
for  beauty,  is  to  exalt  her  on  a  quickfand  ;  a  mofl 
I  2  infidious 


^2 


VINDICATION  OF  THE 


infidious  attempt   to  haften   lier  flill  by  apparent  * 
reipedl.     Virtue  and  pleafjire  are  not,  in  fad,  Cd': 
nearly  allied  in  this  life  as  fome  eloquent  writers 
have  laboured   to  prove.     Pleafure  prepares  the 
fading  wreath,   and  mixes  the  intoxicating  cup  ; 
but  the  fruit  which  virtue  gives,  is  the  recom- 
pence  of  toil:  and,  gradually  fee  n  as  it  ripens,  ; 
only  affords  calm  fatisfadlion  ;  nay,  appearing  to'* 
be  the  refult  of  the  natural  tendency  of  things,  xt' 
is   fcarceiy  obferved.     Bread,   the  common  food  , 
of  life,  feldom  thought  of  as  a  blelling,  fupports  ' 
the  conftitution  and  preferves  heaith  ;  flill  feaiis 
delifrht  the  heart  of  man,  thoUQ;h  difeafe  and  even 
death  lurk  in  the  cup  or  dainty  that  elevates*  tnC" 
fpirits  or  tickles  the  palate.     The  lively  heated 
imagination,  in  the  fame  ftyle,  draws  the  pi(fi:ure 
of  love,  as  it  draws  every  other  pid:urc,  Avith  thofe 
glov/ing  colours,  which  the  daring  hand  will  Ileal  ' 
from  the  rainbow  that  is  direded  by  a  mind,  con-  ' 
demned  in  a  world  like  this,    to  prove  its  noble 
origin    by  panting  after  unattainable  perfe6tion  ; 
ever  purfuing  what  it  acknowledges  to  be  a  fleet- 
ing dream.     An  imagination  of  this  vigorous  cafh 
can  give  exiftence  to  infubilantiai  forms,  and  la- 
bility   to    the   fliadowy  reveries  which  the  mind 
naturally  falls  into  when  realities  are  found  vapid. 
It  can  then  depict  love  with  celeflial  charms,  and 
dote  on  the  grand'  ideal  objedl— it  can  imagine  a 
degree    of  mutual  affedion  that    Ihall  refine  the 
foul,  and  not  expire  when  it  has  ferved  as  a  *fcale 
to  heavenly  ;'  and,  Uke  devotion,  'iiiake  it  abforb 
every  meaner  affei^lion  and'defire.     In  each  oth- 
ers arms,    as  in  a  temple,  with  its  fummit  loft  in 
the  clouds,  the  world  is  to  be  fluit  out,  and  every 

thought 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  133 

thought  and  wiOi,  that  do  not  nurture  pure  af- 
fecftion  and  permanent  virtue. — Permanent  vir- 
tue I  alas  !  Roufieau,  refpecSable  vilionary  !  thy 
paradife  would  foon  be  violated  by  the  entrance  of 
Ibme  unexped;ed  gueft.  Like  Milton's  it  would 
only  contain  angels,  or  men  funk  below  the  .dig- 
nity of  rational  creatures.  Happinefs  is  not  ma- 
terial^ it  cannot  be  ic^n  or  felt, !  Yet  the  eager 
purfnit  of  the  good  which  every  one  Ihapes  to 
his  o*>vn  fancy,  proclaims  man  the  lord  of  this 
lower  world,  and  to  be  an  intelligent  creature^ 
v/ho.  is  not  to  receive,  but  to  acquire  happinels. 
They,  therefore,  who  complain  of  the  deluiions 
of  paflion,  do  not  recollecTt  that  they  are  exclaim- 
ing agsiinfi:.  a. (Iron g  proof  of  the  immortality  of 
the  foul. ''  ■[  :  I 

But  leaving  fuperiour  minds  to  corre<^,them~ 
fel-ves,  and  pay  dearly  for  their  experience,  it  is 
neceffary  to  obferve,  that  it  is  not  again  ft  ftrong, 
perfevering  pailions  ;  but  romanticwavering  feel- 
ings that  I  wl(h  to  guard  the  female  heart  by 
exercifing  the  underilanding  :  for  thefe  paradifia- 
cal  reveries  are  oftener  the  cffcd:  of  idlenefs  than 
of  a  lively  fancy. 

Wojuen  have  feldom  fufficient  ferious  employ- 
ment to  filence  their  feelings ;  a  round  of  little 
cares,  or  vain  purfuits  frittering  away  all  ftrength 
of  mind  and  organs,  they  become  naturally  only 
objeds  of  fenfe. — In  lliort,  the  whole  tenour  of 
female  education  (the  education  of  fociety)  tends 
to  render  the  bed  difpofed  romantic  and  incon- 
llant  ;  and  the  remainder  vain  and  mean.  In 
•the  prefent  ftate  of  fociety  this  evil  can  fcarcely 
be  remedied,  I  am  afraid,  in  the  ilighteft  degree  -, 
I  ^  fhGuld 


134         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

fiiould  a  more  laudable  ambition  ever  gain  ground 
they  may  be  brought  nearer  to  nature  and  rea-r 
fon  ;  and  become  more  virtuous  and  ufeful  as 
they  grow  more  refpcctable. 

But,  I  v^ill  venture  to  afTert  that  their  reafon 
will  never  acquire  lufficient  ftrength  to  enable  it 
to  regulate  their  condutfl:,  vvhilll  the  making  an 
appearance  in  the  world  is  the  firll  wi(h  of  the 
majority  of  mankind.  To  this  weak  wifh  the 
natural  afFedtions,  and  the  moft  ufeful  virtues  are 
lacrificed.  Girls  many  merely  to  Setter  them- 
fehesy  to  borrow  a  fignificant  vulgar  phrafe,  and 
have  fuch  perfe<£t  pov/er  over  their  hearts  as  not 
to  permit  themfelves  to  fall  in  love  till  a  man 
with  a  fuperiour  fortune  offers.  On  this  fubjed:  I 
mean  to  enlarge  in  a  future  chapter ;  it  is  only  ne- 
cefiary  to  drop  a  hint  at  prefent,  becaufe  women  are 
io  often  degraded  by  fuftering  the  felfirti  prudence 
of  age  to  chill  the  ardour  of  youth. 

From  the  fame  fource  flows  an  opinion  that 
young  girls  ought  to  dedicate  great  part  of  their 
time  to  needie-work  ;  yet,  this  employment 
contrads  their  faculties  more  than  any  other 
that  could  have  been  chofen  for  them,  by  con- 
fining their  thoughts  to  their  perfons.  Men 
order  their  clothes  to  be  made,  and  have  done 
v/ith  the  fubjed  ;  women  make  their  own  clothes, 
necefiary  or  ornamental,  and  are  continually  talk- 
ing about  them;  and  their  thoughts  follow  their 
liands.  It  is  not  indeed  the  making  of  neceffa- 
ries  that  weakens  the  mind  j  but  the  frippery  of 
drefs.  For  when  a  woman  in  the  lower  rank  of 
life  makes  her  hulband's  and  children's  clothes, 
/he  does  her  duty,  this  is  a  part  of  her  bufinefs  j; 

but 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  135 

but  when  women  work  only  to  drefs  better  than 
they  could  otherwife  afford,  it  is  worfe  than  fhcer 
lofs  of  time.     To  render  the  poor  virtuous  they 
mu/t  be  employed,    and   women  in   the  middle 
rank  of  life,  did  they  not  ape  the  fafliions  of  the 
jiobility,  without  catching  their  eafe,  might  em- 
ploy them,  whilfl  they  themfelves  managed  their 
families,  inilruifled  their  children,  and  exercifed 
their  own  minds.     Gardening,  experimental  phi- 
lofophy,  and  literature,  would  afford  them  fub- 
je'ils  to  think  of  and  matter  for  converfation,  that. 
in  fome  degree  would  exercife  their  underfland- 
ings.     The  converfation  of  French  women,  who 
are  not  fo  rigidly  nailed  to   their  chairs  to   tv/ift 
lappets,  and  knot  ribbons,  is    frequently  fuperfi- 
cial ;  but,  I  contend,  that  it  is  not  half  fo  infipid 
as  that  of  thofe  Englilh  women   whofe  time   is 
fpent  in  making  caps,  bonnets,  and  the  whole 
mifchief  of  trimmings,    not   to  mention  ihop- 
ping,  bargain-hunting,    6cc,    Sec.  and  it  is  the 
decent,  prudent  women,  who  are  moft  degraded 
by   thefe  practices  ;  for  their  motive    is  (imply 
vanity.     The  wanton  who  exercifes  her  taile,  to 
render  her  perfon  alluring,  has   fomething  more 
in  view. 

Thefe  obfcrvations  all  branch  out  of  a  general 
one,  which  I  have  before  made,  and  which  can- 
not be  too  often  infilled  upon,  for,  fpeaking  of 
men,  women,  or  profeifions,  it  will  be  found 
that  the  employment  of  the  thoughts  ihapes  the 
charader  both  generally  and  individually.  The 
thoughts  of  women  ever  hover  round  their  per- 
fons,  and  is  it  furprifmg  that  their  perfons  are 
reckoned  mofl  valuable  ?  Yet  fome  degree  of 
I  4  liberty 


136         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

liberty  of  mind  is  necelTary  even  to  form  the  per-^* 
loin  ^  and  this  may  be  one  reafon  why  fomc  gerf-, 
tie  wives  have  fo  fev/ attiadions  beiidethatof  icx. 
Add  to  this,  fedentary  employments  render  the 
majority  of  women  Ifckly — -and  'falfe  notions  ^of 
female  excellence  make  them  proud  of  this  del V 
cacy,  though  it  be  another  fetter,  that  by  calling' 
the  attention  continually  to  the  body,  crrirpps 
tlio  adivitybf  the  mind. 

Woinen  of  quality  feldom  do  any  of  the  man- 
ual part  of  their  drefs,   confequeritly  only  their 
talle  is  exercifed,  and  they  acquire,  by  thinking 
fcisof  the  finery,  v/hen  the  bufmcfs  of  their  toi- 
let is  oyer,  that  cafe,  which  feldom   appears    ia 
^le  deportment  of  wonien,  who  'drefs  merely  for 
the  fak,6  of  (ireffing.^  In  fk'd:,*:tfe  obfervation 
\yith  refped:  to  the  middle  rank,  the 'one  in  which 
talents  thrive  beft,  extends   not  to  women  ;  for 
thofe  of  the  fuper^oar  clafs,  by  catching,  at  Icafl:,' 
^fmattering  of  lit^ratvire,   and  cohvcrfing   mota 
"V^ath  men,  on  gelieral  topics,  acquire  more  know- 
ledge  than  the  women   who   ape  their   falhions 
and   faults   without    iliaring    their    advantages. 
With  refped  to  virtite;  tO'ufethe  Word  in  a  com- 
prehenfive  fenfe,  I  have  fcen   moil:  in   low  life. 
Many  poor  women  ihaintain    their  children  by 
the  fw'fc'at  of  their  brov/,  and  keep  together  fami- 
lies that  the  vices  of  the  fathers  would  have  fcat- 
tefed  abroad";  but  gen  tie- women  are  too  indolent 
to  be  a<5livcly  virtiiOu,s,  and  arc    foftei;\ed    rather 
than  refined  by 'civilization.     IndcBd,  "the.  good 
ienfe  which  I  have  met  v*^ith,   among   the  poor 
women  who  ha^'e  bad  few  advantages  of'  educa- 
tion, and  yet  have' acted  heroically,  llrongly  con-. 

firmed 


RIGHTS  OF  -Va^OMANV         137 

firmed  me  in  the  opinion  that  trifling  employ- 
ments have  rendered  woman  a  trifler.  Men,  tak- 
ing her  *  body,  the  mind  is  left  to  rufl  ;  (o  that 
while  phyfical  love  enervates  man,  as  being  his 
favourite  recreation,  hcv/ill  endeavour  to  enllave 
woman : — and,  who  can  tell,  how  many  genera- 
tigns  may  be  ncccilary  to  give  vigour  to  the  vir- 
tue and  talents  of  the  freed  poilerity  of  abjcdt 
llaves  -f  ? 

'''In  tracing  th'ecaufes  that,  in  my  opinion,  have 
■degraded  woman,  I  liave  confined  my  obler.vation.s 
to  fuch  as  u=iiive-rfally  a<^  upon  the'  moi-ai-s  ajid 
manners  of  the  wjioje  fex,  and  to  me  it  .appears 
clear  that  they  all  fpring'from  want  of  underftand- 
ing.  Whether  this  arife  from  a  phyfical  or  ac- 
cidental weaknefs  of  faculties,  time  alone  can  de- 
termine ;  for  I  {hall  not  lay  any  great  flreis  on 
the  example  of  a  few  women ';|.  who,"  from  hav- 
ing received  a  mafculine  education,  haveaoquired 
courage  and  refolution  ;  P  only  contend  that  the 
men  v/ho  have  been  placed  in  fimilar  frtuations, 
have  acquired  a  fimilar  charadicr — I  fpeak  of  bo- 
dies of  men,  and  that  men  of  genius  and  talentci 
have  ftarted  out  of  a  clafs,  in'  which  .woilieii  have 
never  yet  l^een  placed. 

•  '  I  take  licrbody,'  fays  Rmge; . 

Y  '  SuppoHng  tliat  women  are  vaiuntnry  flaves — flavcry  of  any  kind  Is 
•  unfavoiirsble  to  hiim^in  hapuliitf-.  aiiJ  imjuovement.'         -Knox's  Ejfdys. 

t  Sappho,  F.loift,  Mrs.  .Vlacsuley,  the  Eiiipiefs  of  Rufli?,  MiAilaiiie 
d'Eon,  5rc.  Tiicffj  an.l  in.iny  more,  jnay  hi  reckoned  exceptions  ;  and, 
are  not  all  heroes,  as  well  as  heroines,  exceptions  to  general  rules  ?  I  vvl!l) 
^c  ice  women  neither  heroinci  ocr  br^ites  j  bui  Jtafonable  creatines. 

eii  AP. 


138         VINDICATION  OF  THE 


C     H     A     P.     V. 

ANIMADVERSION'S  ON  SOME  OF  THE  WRIT- 
ERS WHO  HAVE  RENDERED  WOMEN  OB- 
JECTS OF  PITY,  BORDERING  ON  CON- 
TEMPT. 

1  HE  opinions  fpccioully  fapported,  in  fome 
modern  publications  on  the  female  charadter  and 
education,  which  have  given  the  tone  to  moft  of 
the  obfervations  made,  in  a  more  curfory  man»- 
ner,  on  the  fex,  remain  now  to  be  examined. 

SECT.       I. 

I  SHALL  begin  with  Roufleau,  and  give  a 
fkctch  of  the  characfter  of  women,  in  his  own 
words,  interfperiing  comments  and  reflexions. 
My  comments,  it  is  true,  will  all  fpring  from  a 
few  Ample  principles,  and  might  have  been  de- 
duced from  what  I  have  already  faid ;  but  the  ar^- 
tificial  ftru6ture  has  been  raifed  with  fo  much 
ingenuity,  that  it  feems  necellary  to  attack  it  ip 
a  more  circumftantial  manner,  and  make  the  ap- 
plication myfelf. 

Sophia,  fays  Roufleau,  fhould  be  as  perfeft  a 
woman  as  Emilius  is  a  man,  and  to  render  her 
fo,  it  is  necelTary  to  examine  the  character  which 
nature  has  given  to  the  fex, 

He  then  proceeds  to  prove  that  woman  ought 
to  be  weak  and  paflive,  becaufc  (he  has  lefs 
bodily  ftrength    than  man    -,    and,   from   hence 

infers, 


RIGHTS  OF.WOxMAN.  139 

infers,  that  fhe  was  formed  to  pleafe  and  to  be 
fubjedt  to  him  ;  and  that  it  is  her  duty  to  render 
hcdclf  d^reeal?/e  to  her  mailer — this  being  the 
grand  end  of  her  exiftence*.  Still,  however,  to 
give  a  little  mock  dignity  to  fenfual  defire,  he  in- 
fills that  man  fhould  not  exert  his  flrength,  but 
depend  on  the  will  of  the  woman,  when  he  fecks 
for  pleafure  with  her, 

'  Hence  we  deduce  a  third  confequence  from 
the  different  conflitutions  of  the  fexes  j  which 
is,  that  the  ilrongeil  fhould  be  maflers  in  ap- 
pearance, and  be  dependent  in  fad;  on  the 
weakefl  ;  and  that  not  from  any  frivolous  prac- 
tice of  gallantry  or  vanity  of  protector  (hip,  but 
from  an  invariable  law  of  nature,  which,  fur- 
nifhing  woman  with  a  greater  facility  to  excite 
delires  than  fhe  has  given  man  to  fatisfy  them, 
makes  the  latter  dependent  on  the  good  pleafure 
of  the  former,  and  compels  him  to  endeavour 
to  pleafe  in  his  turn,  in  o?'ikr  to  obtain  her  con- 
fent  that  hejhould  befirongeJl'\,  On  thefe  oc- 
calions,  the  moil  delightful  circumllance  a  man 
finds  in  his  vicflory  is,  to  doubt  whether  it  was 
the  woman's  weaknefs  that  yielded  to  his  fupe- 
riour  flrength,  or  whether  her  inclinations 
fpoke  in  his  favour  :  the  females  are  alfo  gen- 
erally artful  enough  to  leave  this  matter  in 
doubt.  The  underllanding  of  women  anfwers  in 
this  refpett  perfedly  to  their  conilitution  :  fo  far 
from  being  aihamed  of  their  weaknefs,  they 
glory  in  it  ;  their  tender  mulcles  make  no  re- 
^  fillance  •,  they  aft\:tt  to  be   incapable  of  lifting 


t  «•], 


ne 


*  T  h.ive  -jlreaJy  InTertftl  ihe  pslTige,  page  88, 


I40         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

*  the  fmalleft  burtliens,  and  would   bludi  to  be 
-*  thought  rxDb 'aft  and  fbrong.     To  what  purpofe 

*  is  all  this  ?  Not  merely  for  the  fake  of  appear- 

*  ing  delicate,  but  through  an  artful  precaution  : 
'it  is  thus  they  provide   an  excufe  beforehand, 

*  and!a  right  to  be  feeble  When  they  think  it  ex- 
'  pedient*.'  'Hi    r 

I  have  quoted  this  paiTage,  left  my  readers 
{hould  fufpe(5t  that  Iwai-pedthe  author''s  reafon- 
ing  to  fapport  my  own  arguments.  I  have  al- 
ready alTerted  that  in  educating  women  thefs  fun- 
damental principles  lead  to  a  fyftsm  of  cunning 
and  lafcivioufnels. 

Suppoling  woman  to"  have  been  formed  only 
to  pleaie,  and  be  fubjedl;  to  man,  the  conclufion 
is  juft,  ihc  ought  to  facriiice  every  other  conilder- 
ation  to  render  herfelf  aereeable  to  him  :  and  let 
this  brutal  dcfire  of  felf- prefer vation  be  the  grand 
ipring  of  all  her  adions,  when  it  is  proved  to  be 
the  iron  bed  of  fate,  to  ft'  which  her  characfter 
Should  be  ftrctched  or  eontraded,  regardkfs  of 
all  moral  or  phyfical  diftindions.  But,  if,  as  I 
think,  may  be  demonftrated,  the  purpofes,  of 
even  this  life,  viewing  the  whole,  iire  fubverted 
by  practical  rules  built  upon  this  ignoble  bafe,  I 
may  be  allowed  to  doubt'  v/hether  woman  was 
created  for  man  :  and,  though  the  cry  of  irreli- 
gion,  or  even  atheifm,  be  raifed  again  ft  me,  I  will 
jimply  declare,  that  were  an  angel  from  heaven 
to  tell  me  that  Mofes's  beautiful,  poetical  cof- 
mogony,  and  the  account  of  the  fall  of  man, 
were  literally  true,  I  could  not  believe  what  my 
reafon  told  me  was  derogatory  to  the  charader  of 

the 

•  Rouffcau's  Emilius,  Vol.  III.  p.  i6S, 


klOHTS  OF  WOMAN.  141 

the  Supreme  Being  :  iai-d,  having  no  Ibar  of  the 
devil  before  mine  eyes,' I  venture    to  call  this  a 
fuggeftion  of  reafon,  inftead'of  rsfting  my  weak- 
nefs  on  the  broad  fhould'ers  of  the  firft  feducct' 
of  my  frail  fex.  •.■■:nr^  .  -i^j^:  .u  J  * 

*  It  being  once  dem<i)rtflr'ated,'  contintfel  I^otff- ' 
fcau,!  '.that  man  and  vvoiYi^n'  are  not,  nor  ought 
'to  be/coiiftituted  alifci   irt  tempemmeiit  -and 

*  character,  it  follows  of  cburfe  that  they  flioald 

*  not  be  edncated  in  the  fame  maimer.     Hi  pur- 

*  filing  the  diredltons  of  nature,   they -ought  in- 

*  deed  to  a6t  in  concert,  but  they  fliould   not  be 

*  engaged  in  the  fame  employments  :  the  end  of 
**  their  purfiiits  lliould  be  the  fame,  but  the  means 
'  they  fliould  take  to  accomplifh  them,  and  of 

*  confequencc  their  taftes  and  inclinations,  fliould. 
'  be  difeent*.' 


*  Whether  I  confider  the  peculiar   deftinatilbti 

*  of  the  fex,  obferve  their  inelinations^  or  remark 

*  their  duties,  all  things  equally  concur  to   point 

*  out  the  peculiar  method  of  cd-ucation  befl:  adapt- 

*  ed  to  them.     Woman  and  man  were  made  for 

*  each  other,  but  their  mutual  dependence  is  not 

*  the  fame.     The    men   depend  on  the   women 
'  only  on  account  of  their  defires  ;   the  women 

*  on  the  men  both  on  account  of  their  deli  res 

*  and    their  neceffities  :  we  could    fubfift  better 

*  without  them  than  they  without  us-f-.' 


•  '  *  For 

•  RoufTeaii's  Emllius,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  176, 
t  RoulFeau's  EniiliuSj  Vol,  Ilf.  p.  179. 


142         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

*  For  this  reafon,  the  education  of  the  womeii 

*  iliould   be   always   relative    to    the  men.     To 

*  pleafe,  tp  be  ufeful  to  us,  to  make  us  love  and 

*  efteem  them,  to  educate  us  when  young,    and 

*  take  care  of  us  when  grown    up,  to  advife,  to 

*  Gonfole  us,  to  render  our  lives  eafy  and  agrcea- 

*  ble  :  theie  are  the  duties  of  women  at  all  times, 
'  and  what  they  Ihould  be  taught  in  their  infan- 

*  cy.  So  long  as  we  fail  to  recur  to  thif  princi- 
Vple,  we  run  wide  of  the  mark,  and  all  the  pre- 
'  cepts  which  are  given  them*  contribute  neither 

*  to  their  liappinefs  nor  our  own*.' 


'  Girls  are  from  their  earllell:  infancy  fond  of 
'  drefs.     Not  content  with  being  pretty,    they 

*  are  deiirous  of  being  thought  fo  ;  we  fee,  by  all 

*  their  little  airs,  that  this  thought  engages  their 

*  attention  ;  and  they  are  hardly  capable  of  un~ 

*  derftanding   what  is  iaid  to  them,  before  they 

*  are  to  be  governed  by  talking  to   them  of  what 

*  people   will    think   of  their  behaviour.     The 

*  fame  motive,,  however,   indifcreetly  made  ufc  of 

*  with   boys,  has  not  the  fame  efiedl:  :  provided 

*  they  are  let  to  purfue  their  amulements  at  plea- 

*  fure,  they  care  very  little  what  people  think  of 

*  them.     Time  and   pains  are  ncceflary  to  fub- 

*  je6l  boys  to  this  motive. 

*  Whencefocver  girls  derive  this  firft  lefTon,  it 
'  is  a  very  good  one.     As  the  body  is  born,  in  a 

*  manner  before  the  foul,  our  iirll  concern  ihould 
'  be  to  cultivate  the  former  ;  this  order  is  com- 
mon 

*  Rouncau'jBmili'.is,  V*).III,  p,  iSi. 


kIGHTS  OF  WOMAN. 


H3 


*  mon  to  both  fexes,  but  the  objedl  of  that  ciil- 
'  tivation  is  different.     In  the  one  fex  it  is  the 

*  developement  of  corporeal  powers  ;  in  the  oth- 

*  cr>  that  of  perfonal  charms  :  not  that   either 

*  the  quahty  of  flrength  or  beauty  ought  to  be 

*  confined  exclufively  to  one  fex  ;  but  only  that 

*  the  order  of  the  cultivation  of  both  is  in  that 

*  refpeft  reverfed.     Women  certainly  require  as 

*  much  ilrength  as   to  enable  them  to  move  and 
'ad:   gracefully,  and  men  as  much  addrefs  as  to 

*  qualify  them  to  ad  w^ith  eafe.' 


*  Childrenof  both  fexes    have  a  great  many 

*  amufements   in  common  -,  and  fo  they  ought ; 

*  have  they  not  alfo  many   fuch    v\'hen  they  arc 

*  grown  up  ?  Each  fex  has  alfo  its  peculiar  tafte 
'  to   diftinguiih   in    this  particular.     Boys  love 

*  fports  of  noife  and  acflivity  >  to  beat  the  drum, 

*  to  whip  the  top,  and  to  drag  about  their  little 

*  carts  :  girls,   on    the  other  hand,  are  fonder  of 

*  things  of  fhov/and  ornament ;  fuch  as  mirrours^ 

*  trinkets,   and  dolls  :  the    doll  is    the  peculiar 
'  amufement  of  the  females  ;  from  whence  we  fee 

*  their  taile  plainly  adapted  to  their  defiination. 

*  The  phyfical  part  of  the  art  of  pleafing  lies  in 

*  drefs  ;  and  this  is  all  which  children  are  ca- 

*  pacitated  to  cultivate  of  that  art,' 


*  Here  then  we  fee  a  primary  propenfity  firm- 
ly eftabliflied,  which  you  need  only  purfue  and 

'  regulate. 


144         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

'  fegu]at«.    The  little  creature,  will  Joubt^is  bsf 

*  very  ckilroiis  to  know  how  todreis  up  h^r  doll, 

*  to    mAke  .its   fleeve-rknots,    itSi.iiounccSj  its 

*  bea^d-dtiils,  &c.   flie  is  obliged  to:haii^e  foi  much 

*  f(?cbuff^/^j'to  the  people  about  her,  for  tlieir  ^f- 

*  fiftojiG©'  i^;  thde  articles,  that  it  vrould;  be  much 

*  mof^  ap^iSieablc.  to.  her  to  owe  them  all  to  her 
'^  own  induitry.     Hence  wehavea:  good  reafon  |br 

*  the  fttftileffoiTs  that  are  ufually  taught  thefe)'Oung 

*  female^  :  in  which  .we  .do  not  appear  to  be  fet- 

*  ting  them  a   talk,   but  obliging  them,  by  in- 

*  flruding  them  in  what  is  immediately  ufeful  to 

*  themfelvcs.     And,  in  fa(5t,  almofl  all  of  them 

*  learn   with  rcludtance  to  read  and  \vrite  ;    but 
'  very  feadily  apply  themfelves  to  thfe  uie  of  their 

*  necdies"-.  They  imagine  theriilelves  already  grov/h 

*  lip,  and  think  with  pleafurci  that  fuch  qualifica- 

*  tions  will  enable  them  to  decQfate  themfelves/ 

This  is  certainlycnly  ah'educafionbfthebody; 
but  RoulTeau  is  hot  the  only  man A^^ho  ha§-' indi- 
reiflly  faid  that  merely  the  perfon  of'a-'_)'52/;?0^  wo- 
man, without  any  niiild,  unlefs  animAlfpirits 
come  undef  that  defcriptioh,  is  very  pleafing.  To 
render  it  Weak,  and  what  Ibme  may  call  beauti- 
ful, the  underftanding  is  negle^fled,  and  girls 
forced  to  fit  ftill,  play  with  dolls  arid  liften  to 
foolifhi  converfations  ;-^the  efFeft  of  habit  is  in- 
fiftedup'on  as  an  undpubted  indication  of  naturi2< 
1  know  it  was  Rouittan's  opinion  that  the  firft 
years  of  youth  fliould  be  employed  to  form  the 
body,  though  in  educating  Emilius  he  deviates 
from  this  plan  -,  yet,,  the  difference  between 
lireugthenlng  the  body,  on  which  flrength  of 
mind  in  a.  great  m'eaiii re- depends,  and  only  giv- 
ing it  aneafv  motion,  is  very  wide. 

Rouffcau's 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  145 

koufleau's  obfervations,  it  is  proper  to  remark, 
were  made  in  a  country  where  the  art  of  pleafing 
was  refined  only  to  extradt  the  grofTnefs  of  Vice. 
He  did  not  go  back  to  nature,  or  his  ruling  ap- 
petite difturbed  the  operations  of  reafon,  elfe  he 
would  not  have  drawn  thefe  crude  inferences. 

In  France  beys  and  girls,  particularly  the  lat- 
ter, are  only  educated  to  pleafe,  to  manage  their 
perfons,  and  regulate  their  exterior  behaviour  j  and 
their  minds  are  corrupted,  at  a  very  early  age,  by 
the  worldly  and  pious  cautions  they  receive  to 
guard  them  again  ft  immodefty*  I  fpeak  of  pafl 
times.  The  very  confeflions  which  rhere  chil- 
dren were  obliged  to  make,  and  the  queflions  aik- 
ed  by  the  holy  men,  I  aflert  thefe  fads  on  good 
authority,  were  fufficient  to  imprefs  a  fexual  cha- 
radler  ;  and  the  education  of  fociety  was  a  fchool 
of  coquetry  and  art.  At  the  age  of  ten  or  eleven ; 
nay,  often  much  fooner,  girls  began  to  coquet ^ 
and  talked,  unreproved,  of  eftablilhing  themfelves 
in  the  v/orld  by  marriage. 

In  fhort,  ihey  were  made  women,  almoft  from 
their  very  birth,  and  compliments  were  liftened 
to  inftead  of  in{l:ru<ftioni  Thefe,  weakening  the 
mind^  Nature  was  fuppofed  to  have  adted  like  a 
ftep-mother,  when  fhe  form^ed  this  after- thought 
of  creation. 

Not   allowing   them  underflandlng,  however, 

it  was  but  confiftent  to  fubje6t  them  to  authority 

independent  of  reafon  ;  and  to  prepare  them  for 

this  fubjedtion,  he  gives  the  following  advice  : 

*  Girls  ought  to  be  adlive  and  diligent  )  nor  Is 

*  that  all ;   they   lliould  alio  be  early  fubjedled  to 

•  refbviint.     This  misfortune,  if  it  reallv  be  one, 

K  '        *is 


i^&         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

*  is  iiife parable  from  their  lex  ',    nor  do  they  ever 

*  throw  it  off  but  to  fuffer  more  cruel  evils.  They 

*  mufl  be  lubjcd:,  all  their  lives,  to  the  moll 
'  conflant  and  levere  reftraint,  which  is  that  of 
'  decorum  :  it  is,,  therefore  necellary  to  accuftom 

*  them  early  to  fuch  confinement,  that  it  may  not 

*  afterwards  cofl  them  too  dear  ;  and  to  the  fup- 

*  prefTion    of  their  caprices, '  that    they  may  the 

*  more  readily  fiibmlt  to  the  will  of  others.  If, 
'  indeed,  they  are  fond  of  being  always  at  work, 

*  they  fliould  be  fometimes  compelled  to  lay  it 
'  aiide.     DifTipatlon,  levity,  and  inconflancy^  are 

*  faults  that  readily  fpring  up  from  their  firfl  pro- 

*  penfities,  when   corrupted  or  perverted  by  too 

*  much  indulgence.     To   prevent  thi^  abufe,  we 

*  fliould  learn  them,,  above  all  things,  to  lay  a  due 

*  reftraint  on  themtclves.     The  life  of  a  raodeft 

*  woman    is  reduced,   by  our  iibfurd  inftitutions, 

*  to  a  perpetual  conflid.  with  herfelf  :  not  but  it 

*  is  juft  that  this  fex  ftiould  partake  of  the  fuffer- 

*  ings  which  arife  from  thofe  evils  it  hath  caufed 
'us. 

And  why  is  the  life  of  a  modeft  woman  a  per- 
petual conflidl  ?  I  fliould  anfwer,,  that  this  very 
iyftem  of  education  makes  itfo.  Modefty,  tem- 
perance, and  felf-dcnial,  are  the  fober  offspring  of 
rcafcn  ;  but  v/hen  feniibility  is  nurtured  at  the 
cxpenfe  of  the  underftanding,  fuch  weak  beings 
muft  be  reftrained  by  arbitrary  means,  and  be  fub- 
ie-ftcd  to  continual. conflicts;  but  give  their  activ- 
ity of  mind  a;  wider  range,  and  nobler  paffions 
and  motives  will  govern  their  appetites  and  ih\- 
timents, 

*  The 


'*  RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  147 

'  The  common  attachment  and  regard  of  a 
'  mother,  nay,  mere  habit,  will  make  her  belov- 

*  ed  by  her  children,  if  ihe  does  nothing  to  incur 

*  their  hate.     Even  the  conflraint  fhc  lays  them 

*  under,  if  well  direded,   will  increafe  their  af- 

*  fedlion,  inftcad  of  lelTening  it  ;  becaufe  a  flate 

*  of  dependence  being  natural    to  the  fex,  they 

*  perceive  themfelves  formed  for  obedience/ 

This  is  begging  the  queflion  ;  for  fervitude 
not  only  debafes  the  individual,  but  its  effeds 
feem  to  be  tranfmitted  to  poflerity.  Confidering 
the  length  of  time  that  women  have  been  de- 
j^ndent,  is  it  furpriling  that  fome  of  them  hug 
their,  chains,  and  fawn  like  the  fpaniel  ?  *  Theff 
dogs,'   obferves  a  naturalift,    *  at  firfl  keot    their 

*  eafs  ere6t  ;  but  cuiiom  has   fuperfeded  nature, 

*  and  a  token  of  fear  is  become  a  beauty.' 

'  For  the   fame  reafon,'   adds  Roulieau,  *  wo- 

*  men  have,  or  ought  to  have,  but  little  liberty ; 

*  they  iirc  apt  to  indulge  themfelves  cxceilively  in 

*  what  is  allo\^'ed  them.     Addicted  in  every  thing 

*  to  extremes,   they  are  even  more  tranfported  at 
'  their  diverfions  than  boys.' 

The  anfwer  to  this  is  very  fimple.  Slaves  and 
mobs  have  always  indulged  themlelves  in  the  fame 
excefles,  when  once  they  broke  loofe  from  au- 
thority.— The  bent  bow  recoils  with  violence, 
when  the  hand  is  faddenly  relaxed  that  forcibly 
held  it  ;  and  fenlibility,  the  play-thing  of  out- 
ward circumftanccs,  muft  be  fubjedted  to  author- 
ity, or  moderated  by  reafon. 

*  There  refults,'  he  continues,  '  from  this  ha- 

*  bitual  reftraint  a  traftablenefs  which  the  v/om.en 

*  have  occafion    for  during  their  whole  lives,    as 

K  2  *  thev 


14^        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

'  they   conliantly  remain  either  under  lubjedlion: 

*  to  the  men,   or  to  the  opinions  of  mankind  ; 
'  and  are  never  permitted  to  fet  themfelves  above 

*  thole  opinions.     The  firft  and  moft  important 

*  quahfication  in  a  v^^oman  is  good-nature  orfweet- 

*  nefs  of  temper  :  formed  to  obey  a  being  fo  im- 

*  perfed:  as  man,  often  full  of  vices,   and  always 

*  full  of  faults,    {he  ought  to  learn  betimes   even 

*  to  fufFer  injuftice,   and  to  bear  the  infults  of  a 

*  huiband  v^ithout  complaint  >    it   is  not  for  his 

*  fake,  but  her  ov^^n,  that  (he  fhould  be  of  a  mild 

*  difpofition.     The  perverfenefs  and  ill-nature  of 

*  the  women  only   ferve  to   aggravate  their  own 

*  misfortunes,  and  the  mifcondud:  of  their  huf- 

*  bands  ;  they  might  plainly   perceive  that  fuch 

*  are  not    the  arms  by  which  they  gain  the  fupe^- 

*  riority.'  ' 

Formed  to  live  with  fuch  an  imperfed:  being 
as  man,  they  ought  to  learn  from  the  exercife  of 
their  faculties  the  neceffity  of  forbearance ;  but 
all  the  facred  rights  of  humanity  are  violated  by 
infifting  on  blind  obedience  ;  or,  the  moft  fa- 
cred rights  belong  only  to  man. 

The  being  who  patiently  endures  injuilice,  and 
iilently  bears  infults,  will  foon  become  unjuft,  or 
unable  to  difccrn  right  from  wrong.  Befides,  I 
deny  the  fad:,  this  is  not  the  true  way  to  form  or 
meliorate  the  temper  ;  for,  as  a  fcx,  men  have 
better  tempers  than  women,  becaufe  they  are  oc- 
cupied by  purfuits  that  intereft  the  head  as  well 
as  the  heart  ;  and  the  fteadinefs  of  the  head  gives 
a  healthy  temperature  to  the  heart.  People  of 
fenfibility  have  feldom  good  tempers.  The  for- 
mation of  the  temper  is  the  cool  work  of  reafon, 

when. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  149 

when,  as  life  advances,  flie  mixes  with  happy  art, 
jarring  elements.  I  never  knew  a  weak  or  igno- 
rant perfon  who  had  a  good  temper,  though  that 
conftitutional  good  humour,  and  that  dociUty, 
which  fear  ftamps  on  the  behaviour,  often  obtains 
the  n'ame.  I  fay  behaviour,  for  genuine  meeknefs 
never  reached  the  heart  or  mind,  unlefs  as  the  ef- 
fedt  of  refledlon ;  and  that  limplereftraint  produces 
a  number  of  peccant  humours  in  domelHc  life,  ma- 
ny fenlible  men  will  allow,  who  find  fomc  of^iefe 
gentle  irritable  creatures,  very  troublefome  com- 
panfons. 

^'*"^  Each  feXy*  he  further  argues,  *  (hould  preferve 
*'its  peculiar  tone  and  manner  ;  a  meek  huihand 
*^'may  have  a  wife  impertinent  j    but  mildnefs  of 

*  difpofition    on    the   woman's  fide   will  always 

*  bring  a  man  back  to  reafon,  at  leaft  if  he  be  not 

*  abfolutely  a  brute,    and  will  fooner  or  later  tri- 

*  umph  over  him.'  True,  the  mildnefs  of  reafon  ; 
but  abje(fl  fear  always  infpires  contempt  ;  and 
tears  are  only  eloquent  when  they  flow  down  fair 
cheeks. 

Of  what  materials  can  that  heart  be  compofcd, 
which  can  melt  when  infulted,  and  inllead  of  re- 
volting at  injuftice,  kifs  the  rod  ?  Is  it  unfair  to 
infer  that  her  virtue  is  built  on  narrow  views  and 
felfiilinefs,  who  can  carefs  a  man,  with  true  fem- 
inine foftnefs,  the  very  moment  when  he  treats 
her  tyrannically  ?  Nature  never  dictated  fuch  in- 
fmcerity  ; — and  though  prudence  of  this  fort  be 
termed  a  virtue,  morality  becomes  vague  when 
any  part  is  fuppofed  to  reft  on  falfehood.  Thefe 
are  mere  expedients,  and  expedients  are  only  ufe- 
ful  for  the  moment. 

K3  Let 


ISO         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

Let  the  hufband  bcv/arc  of  trulcinfi;  too  im- 
plicitly  to  this  feryile  obedience  ;  for  if  his  wife 
ean  with  winninr;  fwectnefs  carefs  him  when  an- 
gvy,  -and  when  -fhe  ought  to  be  angry,  unlefs  con> 
tempt  bad  ftiflsd  a;  natural  efFervefcenec,  flic  may 
do  the  fame  after  parting  with  a  lover.  Thefe 
afe  all  preparations. for  adultery  j  or,  fliould  the 
fe.ir  of  the  world,  or  of  hell,  reftrain  her  defire  of 
pleafi ng  other  men,  when  (lie  can  no  longer  pleafc 
her  hufband,  \Yjiat  fubflitute  can  be  found  by  a 
being  who  was  only  formed,  by  nature  and  art, 
to  pleafe  man  ?  what  can  make  her  amends  for 
this  privation,  or  where  is  (he  to  feek  for  a  frefh 
employment  ?  where  find  fufficient  ftrength  of 
mind  to  determine  to  begin  the  fearch,  when  her 
habits  are  fixed,  and  vanity  has  long  ruled  her 
chaotic  mind  ? 

But  this  partial  moralifl  recommends  cunning 
lyftematically  and  plaufibly. 

*  Daughters    fliould    be   always    fubmiffive  j 

*  their  motherSj  hov/ever,  fliould  not  be  inexora- 

*  ble.     To  make  a  young    perfon  tracStable,  llie 

*  ought  not  to  be  mads  unhappy  j  to  make  her 

*  modeit  ilie  ought  not  tp  be    rendered  fi:upid. 

*  On  the  contrary,  I  iliould  not  be  difpleafed   at 

*  her  being  permitted  to  ufefomeart,  not  to  elude 

*  punifliment  in  cafe  of  difobedience,  but  to  ex- 

*  cmpt  herfelf  from  the  necelTity  of  obeying.     It 

*  is  net  neceilary  to  make   her  dependence  bur- 

*  denfom.e,  but  only  to  let  her  feel  it.     Subtil ty 

*  is  a  talent  natural  to  the  fex;  and,  as  I  am  per- 

*  fuaded,  all  onr  natural    inclinations    are   right 

*  and  good  in  thcmfelves,  I  am  of  opinion  this 

*  fhould  be  cultivated  as  v/ell  as  the  others  :   it  is 
*^  rcquifitc  for  us  only  to  prevent  its  abufe.' 

*  W]iate\xr 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  151 

*  Whatever  is,  is  right,'  he  then  proceeds  tri- 
.umphantly  ta  infer.  Granted  ; — yet,  perhaps, 
no  aphorifui  ever  contained  a  more  paradoxical 
aifertion.  It  is  a  iblemn  truth  with  refpeift  to 
God.  He,  reverentially  I  fpeak,  fees  the  whole 
at  once,  and  faw  its  juft  proportions  in  the  womb 
of  time  J  but  man,  who  can  only  infped:  dif- 
jointed  parts,  finds  many  things  wrong  ;  and  it  is 
a  part  of  the  fyftcm,  and  therefore  right,  that  he 
■/liould  endeavour  to  alter  what  appears  to  him  to 
be  fo,  even  while  he  bows  to  the  Wifdom  of  his 
Creator,  and  refpedls  the  darknefs  he  labours  to 
diA^erfe. 

The  inference  that  follows  is  juft  fuppofing 
the  principle  to  be  found.     *  The  fuperiority  of 

*  addrefs,  peculiar  to  tlie  female  fex,  is   a  very 

*  equitable  indemniiication   for    their    inferiority 

*  in   point   of  ftrength  :   without    this,    woman 

*  Vv'ould  not  be  the  companion  of  man  ;  but  his 

*  fiave  :  it  is  by  her  fuperiour  art  and  ingenuity 

*  that  fhe  preferves  her  equality,  and  governs  him 
'  while  Ihe  affedts   to  obey.     Woman  has  every 

*  thing  againd:  her,  as  well  our  faults,  as  her  own 
'  timidity  and  weaknefs ;  {lis  has  nothing  in  her 

*  favour,  but  her  fubtilty  and  her   beauty.     Is  it 
'  not  very  reafonable,  therefore,  flie  fliould  culti- 

*  vate  both  ?'  Greatnefs  of  mind  can  never  dwell 
with  cunning,  or  addrefs,  for  I  fliall  not  differ 
about  words,  when  their  diredl  fii?nification  is 
infmcerity  and  falfehood  ;  but  content  myfelf 
with  obferving,  that  if  any  clafs  of  mankind  arc 
to  be  educated  by  rules  not  ftridly  deducible 
from  truth,  virtue  is  an  affair  of  convention. 
How  could  Rouifeau  dare  to  affert,  after  giving 

K  4  thic 


1^2        AaNDlCATION  OF  THE 

this  advice,  that  in  the  grand  end  of  exiiience 
the  object  of  both  fexes  fliould  be  the  lame, 
when  he  well  knew  that  the  mind,  formed  by  its 
purfuits,  is  expanded  by  great  views  fwallow- 
mg  up  little  ones,  or  that  it  becomes  itfelf  lit- 
tle ? 

Men  have  fuperiour  ftrength  of  body,  j  but 
were  it  not  for  miftaken  notions  of  beauty,  wo- 
men would  acquire  fiifficient  to  enable  them  to 
earn  their  own  fubfiftence,  the  true  definition  of 
independence  ;  and  to  bear  thofe  bodily  inconven- 
iences and  exertions  that  are  requifite  to  flrength- 
en  the  mind, 

Let  us  then,  by  being  allowed  to  take  the  fame 
exercife  as  boys,  not  only  during  infancy,  but 
youth,  arrive  at  perfedion  of  body,  that  we:  may 
know  how  far  the  natural  fupcriority  of  man  ex- 
tends, For  what  reafon  or  virtue  can  be  ex- 
pedled  from  a  creature  when  the,  feed-time  of  life 
is  neglected  ?  None — did  not  the  winds  of  heav- 
en cafually  fcatter  many  ufeful  feeds  in  the  fallow 
ground. 

<  Beauty  cannot  be  acquired  by  drefs,  and   co- 

*  quetry  is  an  art  not  fa  early  and  fpeedily  attain- 

*  ed,     Whiie  girls  are  yet  young,  however,   they 

*  are   in  a  capacity  to  ftudy  agreeable  geflure,  a 

*  pleaiing  m^odulation  of  voice,   an  eafy  carriage 

*  and  behaviour  -,  as  well  as  to  take   the  ad  van - 

*  tage  of  gracefully  r.dapting  their  looks  and  atti- 

*  tudes  to  time,  place,  and  occafion.     Their  ap- 

*  plication,  therefore,  fhould  not   be  folely  con- 

*  fined  to  the  arts  of  induilry  and  the  needle, 
'  wlien  they  come  to  difplay  other  t:ilents,  whofs 

*  utility  is  already  apparent/ 

t  Fo- 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN. 


153 


*  For  my  part,  I  would  have  a  young  EngliOi- 

*  v/oman  cultivate  her  agreeable  talents,  in  order 

*  to  pleafe  her  future  huiband,  with  as  much  care 

*  and  affidiiity   as   a  young   Circaflian    cultivates 

*  her's,  to  fit  her  for  the  haram  pi  an  caftern 

*  bafhaw,' 

To  render  women  completely  infignificant,  hs. 
adds — *  The  tongues  of  v/omcn  are  very  voluble  ; 

*  they  fpeak  .earlier,  more  readily,  and  more  agree- 

*  ably,  than  the  men  J  they  are  accufed  alio  of 

*  fpeaking  much  more  •:  but  fo  it  ought  to  be, 

*  andl  iliould  be  very 'ready  to  convert  this  re- 
'  proach  into  a  complifilent ;  their  lips  and  eyes 
'  have  the  fame  ndivity, 'and  for  the  fame  reafon, 

*  .A  man  fpeaks  of  what  he  knows,  a  woman  of 

*  what  pleafes  her  ;  the  one  requires  knowledge, 
'  the  other  tafte ;  the  principal  obje6t  of  a  man's 
^  difcQurfe  Ihould  be  what  is  ufeful,  that  of  a  wo- 

*  man:s  what  is  agreeable.     There  ought  to   be 

*  nothing    in  common   between    their    different; 

*  converfation  but  truth.' 

*  We  ought  not,  therefore,  to  reflrain  the  prat- 

*  tie  of  girls,  in  the  fame   manner  as  we    {hould 

*  that  of  boys,  with  that  feverequclHon  ;  I'o  what 

*  purpofe  are  you  talking  f  but  by  another,  which 

*  is  no  iefs  ditiicult  toanfvver.  How  will  your  dtf- 

*  courfe  be  received  ?  In  infancy,   while  they  are 

*  as  yet  incapable  to  difcern  good  from  evil,  they 
'  ought  to  ohferve  it,  as  a  law,  never  to   fay   any 

*  thing  difagreeable  to  thofc  v/hom  they  are  ipeak- 

*  ing  to  :  wliat  will  render  the   pradice   of  tliis 

*  rule  alfo  the  more  ditricult,  is,  that  it  mufl  ever 

*  be  fubordinate  to  the  former,  of  never  fpeaking 

*  faUely  or  telling  au  untruth.'     To  govern   th 


tongue ' 


154        VINDICATION  OF  TlfE 

tongue  in  this  manner  muft  require  great  addrefs 
indeed ;  and  it  is  too  much  pradtifed  both  by 
men  and  women. — Out  of  the  abundance  of  the 
heart  how  few  fpeak  !  So  few,  that  I,  who  love 
limplicity,  u'ould  gladly  give  up  politenefs  for  .1 
quarter  of  the  virtue  that  has  been  facriticed  to 
an  equivocal  quality  which  at  bell  fhouldonly  be 
the  polifli  of  virtue. 

But,  to  complete  the  ilictch.  '  *  It  is  eafy  to 
be  conceived,  that  if  male  children  are  not  in  a 
capacity  to  form  any  true  notions  of  religion, 
tliofe  ideas  mud  be  greatly  above  the  concep- 
tion of  the  females  :  it  is  for  this  very  reafon, 
I  would  begin  to  fpeak.  to  them  the  earlier  on 
this  iubject  ;  for  if  we  were  .to  wait  tilLthty 
were  in  a  capacity  to  dilcufs  methodically  fucli 
profound  qucflions,  ,,we  fhould  run:':a-:iifk  of 
never  fpeaking  to  them  on  this  fubjedt  as  lor.g 
as  they  lived.  R.eafon  in  women  is  a  practi- 
cal reafon,  capacitating  tl:iem  artfuUy  to  difcov- 
er  the  means  of  attaining  a  known  end,  but 
which  would  never  enable  them  to  difcovcr 
that  end  itfelf.  The  focial  relations  of  the 
fexes  are  indeed  truly  admirable  :  from  their 
union  there  rcfults  a  moral  perfon,  of  which 
woman  may  he  termed  the  eyes,  and  man  the 
hand,  v>'ith  this  dependence  on  each  other,  that 
it  is  from  the  man  that  the  woman  is  to  learn 
what  ilie  is  to  fee,  and  it  is  of  the  woman  that 
man  is  to  learn  what  he  ought  to  do.  If  wo- 
man could  recur  to  the  fliil  principles  of  thinc-s 
as  wpll  as  man,  and  man  was  capacitated  to  en- 
ter into  their  nnnutice  as  well  as  woman,  always 
independent  of  each  other,  thcv  would  live  \\\ 

*  perpetual 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  155 

*  perpetual  difcord,  and   their   union  could   not 

*  fublift.     But  in    the    prefent    harmony  which 

*  naturally  fublifts  between  them,  their  different 
'  faculties  tend  to  one  common  end  ;  it  is  diffi- 
'■  cult  to  i:iy  which  of  them  conduces  the  moft 
;*.  to  it  :  each  follows   the  impulfe  of  the  other  ; 

*  each  is  obedient,  and  both  are  mafters/ 

*  As  the  condudt  of  a  woman  is  fubfervient  to 

*  the  public  opinion,  her  faith  in  matters   of  re- 

*  ligion  fliould,  for  that   very  reafon,   be   fubje6t 

*  to  authority.     Evefy  daughter  ought  to  be  of  the 

*  fame  religion  as  her  mother ,  and  every  wife  to  be 

*  of  the  fame  religion  as,  kerJju(ha?id:  for,  though 

*  fiich  religion  Jljculd  be  falfy   that  docility  which 

*  induces  the  piother  and  daughter  to  fubmit  to  the 

*  order  of  nature y  take  aivay^  in  the  fight  of  God, 

*  the  criminality  of  their  error'^.'  As  *  they  are 
'  not  in  a  capacity  to  judge  for  themfelves,  they 

*  ought  to  abide  by  the   decifion  of  their  fathers 

*  and  hufbands   as  confidently  as  by  that  of  the 

*  church.' 

*  As  authority  ought  to  regulate  the  religion  of 

*  the  women,    it  is    not  fo  needful  to  explain  to 

*  them  the  reafons  for  their  beUef,  as  to  lay  dov/n 

*  precifely  the  tenefj  they  are  to  believe  :  for  the 

*  creed,  which  prefents  only  obfcure  ideas  to  tlie 

*  mind,   is    the   fource   of  fanaticifm  ;   and  that 

*  which  prefents  abfurdities,  leads  to  infidelity.' 

Abfolutc,   uncontroverted  authority,    it  feems, 
muft  fubful  fomewhere  :  but  is  not  this  a  direct 

and 

*  What  is  to  be  thcconfcqu!  nee,  if  tlie  mothfi's  and  huflinnd's  oj'inion 
flioiilj  chanci:  nr,i  to  sgiee  ^  An  ignoiain  peilbn  cano'-it  be  icaloiud  out 
o\  an  erioj — and  wh<.n  perfuadcd  to  five  ii|>  one  prcjiidice  for  ancihcr  tlie 
mind  is  iirrftt!c-d,  IndteJ,  ilie  hulbanJ  may  not  have  any  religion  lo 
teach  hci,  thongh  in  iucli  a  litnation  <he  will  !>?  in  giera  wui.t  cl  a  luj)- 
pon  to  hci  v:;ii:;,  inJ-rjiiJ^ni  of  .^OiK!!)■  cjnriJci^iions. 


J  56         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

and  exclufive  appropriation  of  rcafon  ?  The  rights 
of  humanity  have  been  thus  conf.nccTto  the  male 
line  from  Adam  downwards.  RoulTeau  would 
carf)'  his  male  ariftocracy  ftill  further,  for  he  in- 
finuates,  that  he  lliould  not  blame  thofe,  who 
contend  for  leaving  woman  in  a  ftate  of  the  molt 
profound  ignorance,  if  it  were  not  necelTar)'  in 
order  to  preferve  her  chaftity  and  juftify  the  man's 
choice,  in  the  eyes  of  the  world,  to  give  her  a  lit- 
tle knowledge  of  men,  and  the  cufloms  produced 
by  human  paffions ;  clfe  fhe  might  propagate  at 
home  v/ithout  being  rendered  lefs  voluptuous  and 
innocent  by  the  exercife  of  her  underftanding  : 
excepting,  indeed,  during  the  firft  year  of  marri- 
age, when  file  might  employ  it  to  drefs  like  So- 
phia.    *  Her   drefs  is   extremely  modefl   in  ap- 

*  pearance,  and  yet  very  coquettifh  in  fafl  :  fhe 

*  does  not  make  a  difplay  of  her  charms,  (he  con- 

*  ceals  them  ;  but  in  concealing  them,  ihe  knows 
'  how  to   afFcift  your    imagination.     Every   one 

*  who  fees  her,  will  fay.  There  is  a  mbdeft  and 
'  difcreet  girl  ;  but  while  you  arc  near  her,  your 

*  eyes  and  afi'c6tions  wander  all  over  her  perfon,  lb 
'  that  you  cannot  withdrav/  them ;  and  you  would 

*  conclude,  that  every  part  of  her  drefs,  limple  as 

*  it  fecms,  was  only  put  in  its  proper  order  to  be 

*  taken  to  pieces  by  the  imagination.*  Is  this 
modefty  ?  Is  this  a  preparation  for  immortality  t 
Again. — What  opinion  are  we  to  form  of  a  {y{- 
tem  of  education,  when  the  author  fave  of  his  he- 
roine,  *  that  w^ith  her,   doing  things  well,   is  but 

*  2L  fccondary  cor.CQvn  ;  her  principal  concern  is  to 

*  do  them  neatly,' 

Secondar)', 


RIGHTS  OF  V/OMAN.  157 

"Secondary,  in  facS,  are  all  her  virtues  and  quali- 
ties, for,  reipecfting  religion,  he  makes  her  parents 
thus  addrefs  her,  accuftomed  to  lubmilfion — 
'  Your  hu/band  v/ill  inftru(ft  you  in  good  time.' 

After  thus  cramping  a  woman's  mind,  if,  in 
order  to  keep  it  fair,  he  has  not  made  it  quite  a 
blank,  he  advifes  her  to  refied:,  that  a  refiedling 
man  may  not  yawn  in  her  company,  when  he  is 
tired  of  carelTmg  her. — What  has  ihe  to  rcfied. 
about  who  mutl  obey  ?  and  would  it  not  be  a  re- 
finement on  cruelty  only  to  open  her  mind  to 
make  the  darknefs  and  mifery  of  her  fate  vifibk  t 
Yet,  thefe  are  his  fenfible  remarks }  how  conliJl- 
ent  with  what  I  have  already  been  obliged  to 
quote,  to  give  a  fair  view  of  the  fubjecft,  the  read- 
er may  determine. 

*  They  who  pafs  their  whole  lives  in  working 

*  for  their  daily  bread,  have  no  ideas  beyond  their 

*  bufincfs  or  their  intereft,  and  all  their  under- 

*  flanding   feems   to  lie  in   their   fingers'  ends* 

*  This  ignorance  is  neither  prejudicial  to  their  in- 

*  tegrity  nor  their  morals  3   it  is  often  of  fervice 

*  to  them.     Sometimes^  by  means   of  refledlion, 

*  we  are  led  to  compound  v/ith  our  duty,  and  we 

*  conclude  by  fubftituting  a  jargon  of  words,  in 

*  the  room  of  things.     Our  own    confcience   is 

*  the  mod  enlightened  philofopher.     There  is  no 

*  need  to  be  acquainted  with  Tully'^  offices,  to 

*  make  a  man  of  probity  :  and   perhaps  the  moll 

*  virtuous  woman  in  the  world,  is    the  lead  ac- 

*  quainted  with  the  definition  of  virtue.     But  it 

*  is  no  lefs  true,  that  an   improved  underftanding- 

*  can  only  render   fociety   agreeable  ;  and  it  is  a 

*  melancholy  thins;  for  a  father  of  a  family,  who 

Ms 


ijS         VINDICx\TION  OF  THE 

*  is  fond  of  hone,  to  be  obliged    u  be    always 

*  wrapped  up  in  himfelf,  and  to    have   nobody 

*  about  him  to  whom  he  can  impart  his   fenti- 

*  ments. 

'  Belides,  how  iliould  a  woman   void   of  re- 

*  fl'^ction  be  capable  of  educating  her  children  ? 
'  How  (iiould  flie    difcern  what   is   proper   for 

*  them  ?  How  fliould  flie  incline  them  to  thofe 

*  virtu  .  (he  is  unacquainted   with,   or  to   that 

*  merit  of  which  fhe  has  no  idea  ?  She  can  only 
<  footh  or  chide  them  ;   render  them  infolent  or 

*  timid  ;  (he  will  make  them  formal  coxcombs, 

*  or  ignorant  blockheads ;  but  will  never  make 

*  them  fenfible  or  amiable.'  How  indeed  fhould 
fhe,  when  her  hufband  is  not  always  at  hand  to 
lend  her  his  reafon  ? — when  they  both  togeth- 
er  make  but   one    moral  being.     A  blind  will, 

*  eyes  without  hand?,  *  would  go  a  very  little  way  ; 
and  perchance  his  abflradl  reafon,  that  fhould 
concentrate  the  fcattered  beams  of  her  practical 
reafon,  may  be  employed  in  judging  of  the  fla- 
vour of  wine,  dclcanting  on  the  fauces  m.oft  pro- 
per for  turtle  ;  or,  more  profoundly  intent  at  a 
card-table,  he  may  be  generalizing  his  ideas  as  he 
bets  away  his  fortune,  leaving  all  the  jninutic?  of 
education  to  his  help-mate  or  to  chance. 

Biit,  granting  that  woman  ought  to  be  beauti- 
ful, innocent  and  filly,  to  render  her  a  more  al- 
luring and  indulgent  companion  ; — what  is  her 
underllanding  facrificed  for  ?  And  why  is  all  this 
preparation  neceflary  only,  according  to  Rouf- 
feau's  own  account,  to  make  her  the  miftrefs  of 
her  hufDaiid,  a  very  fliort  time  ?  For  no  man  ever 
infiAcd   more  on    the   ti*iniicnt    nature  of  love. 

Thus 


RIGHTS  OF  WQxMAN.  159 

^rhus  fpeaks  thephilofopher.     '  Senfual  pleafures 

*  are  tranlient.     The    habitual  ftate  of  the  afFec- 

*  tions  always  lofe  by  their  gratification.    The  im- 

*  agination,  which  decks  the  objcd;  of  our  delires, 

*  is  loft  in  fruition.     Excepting  the  Supreme  Be- 

*  ing,  who  is  felf-exiflent,  there  is  nothing  beau- 

*  tiful  but  what  is  ideal.' 

But  he  returns  to  his  unintelligible  paradoxes 
again,  when  he  thus  addrelTes  Sophia.  '  Emili- 
us,  in  becoming  your  hulband,  is  become  vour 
mafler  ;  and  claims  your  obedience.  Such  is 
the  order  of  nature.  When  a  man  is  married, 
however,  to  fuch  a  wife  as  Sophia,  it  is  proper 
he  fliould  be  dirded  by  her  ;  this  is  alfo  agreea- 
ble to  the  order  of  nature  :  it  is,  therefore,  to 
give  you  as  much  authority  over  his  heart  as  his 
fex  gives  him  over  your  perfcn,  that  I  have  made 
you  the  arbiter  of  his  pleafures.  It  m^iy  cofl 
you,  perhaps,  fome  difagreeable  felf-denial ;  but 
you  will  be  certain  of  maintaining  your  empire 
over  him,  if  you  can  preferve  it  over  yourfelf — 
what  I  have  already  obferved,  alfo,  fhov/s  me, 
that  this  difficult  attempt  does  not  furpafs  your 
courage. 

*  Would  you  have  your  hufl')and  confiantly  at 
your  feet  ?  keep  him  at  fome  diflance  from 
your  perfon.  You  v/ill  long  m.aintain  the  au- 
thority in  love,  if  you  know  but  how  to  rendjer 
your  favc^urs  rare  and  valuable.  It  is  thus  you 
may  employ  even  the  arts  of  coquetry  in  the 
fervice  of  virtue,  and  thofe  of  love  in  that  of 
reafon.' 
I  ilmil  clofe  my  extracts  with  a  jufl  dsfcription 
of  a  comfortable   couple.     *  And  yet   you  mull: 


x6o  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

'  not  imagine,   that  even  fuch  mana2:cment  will 

*  always  fuffice.     Whatever  precaution  he  taken, 

*  enjoyment  will,  by  degrees,  take  off  the  edge  of 

*  paifion.     But  when  love  hath  lafted  as  long  as 

*  poffibic,  a  plealing  habitude  fupplies  its  place, 

*  and  the  attachment  of  a  mutual  confidence  fuc- 
'  cteds  to    the  trani|:)orts  of  paflion.     Children 

*  often  form  a  more  agreeable  and  permanent  con- 

*  necftion  between  married  people  than  even  love 
'  itlelf.     When  you  ccafe  to  be   the   miftrefs  of 

*  Emilius,  you  will  continue  to  be  his   wife  and 
'  friend,  you  will   be  the  mother  of  his  chil- 

*  dren*.' 

Children,  he  truly  obferves,  form  a  much  more 
permanent  connedion  between  married  people 
than  love.  Beauty,  he  declares,  will  not  be  va- 
lued, or  even  feen,  after  a  couple  have  lived  fix 
months  together  j  artificial  graces  and  coquetry 
will  likewife  pall  on  the  fenfes  :  why  then  does 
lie  fay  that  a  girl  fhould  be  educated  for  her  huf- 
band  with  the  fame  care  as  for  an  eaftern  haram  r 

I  now  appeal  from  the  reveries  of  fancy  and  re- 
Bned  licentioufnefs  to  the  eood  fenfe  of  mankind. 
Vv^hether,  if  the  objedt  of  education  be  to  prepare 
w^omen  to  become  chafle  wives  andfenfible  moth- 
ers, the  methods  fo  plaufibly  recommended  in  the 
foregoing  il-LCtch,  be  the  one  befl  calculated  to  pro- 
duce thofe  ends  ?  Will  it  be  allowed  that  the 
fureft  way  to  make  a  wife  chafte,  is  to  teach  her  to 
pradife  the  v/anton  arts  of  a  miftrefs,  termed 
virtuous  coquetry,*  by  the  fenfaalift,  who  can  no 
longer  rclKh  the  artlcfs  charms  of  fincerity,  or 
ta/lc  the  pleafure  arifing  from  a   tender  intimacy, 

when 

■  •  RjuiHau'i  Fmi!i\i8. 


felGHTS  OF  WOMANi  i6i 

wlien  confidenGe  is  unchecked  by  fufplcidn,  and 
rendered  intcrefting  by  fenfe  ? 

The  man  who  can  be  contented  to  live  with  a 
ptQtty^  ufeful  companion,  without  a  mindj  has 
loft  iit  voluptuous  gratifications  a  tafte  for  more 
refined  enjoyments  j  he  has  never  feh  the  calm 
fatisfadiion,  that  rcfrefhes  the  parched  heart,  like 
the  fi lent  de\V  of  heaven, — of  being  heloVed  by 
one  who  could  under ftand  him*-!— In  the  foetcty 
of  his  wife  he  is  ftill  alone,  unlefs  wh^ii  the  man 
is  funk  in  the  brute*  '  *  The  charm'  of  life,'  fays* 
a  grave  philofophical  reafoner,  ii  *  fympathy  ; 
'  nothing  plcafes  us  more-  thaft  to  obfervd  in  dth- 

*  er  meii  a   fellow-feeling  with  all  the  emotions 

*  of  our  own  breaft.' 

But,  aecbrding  to  the  tenouif  of  reafoning,  by 
which  women  are  kept  from  the  tree  of  know- 
ledge, the  importartt  years  of  youth,  the  ufeful- 
nefs  of  age,  and  the  National  hopes  of  futurity,  are 
all  to  be  facrificed  to  render  women  ah  object  of 
defire  for  ^fiorf  time.  Bcfides,  hov/  could  Rouf- 
feau  expedlthem  to  be  virtuous  drid  conftantwhen 
reafon  is  neither  allowed  to  be  the  foundation  of 
their  virtue,  nor  truth  the  objedt  of  their  inquir-*' 
ies  ? 

But  all  Rouffeau's errors  in  rcafohingafofefrom 
fenfibility,  and  fenfibility  to  their  charms  women 
are  vefy  ready  to  forgive  !  When  he  fhould  have 
reafoned  he  became  impaflioned,  and  refledtion  in- 
flamed his  imagination  inftead  of  enlightening  his 
underftanding.  Even  his  virtues  al^  led  him 
farther  aftray  ;  for,  born  with  a  warm  con  ft  it  u- 
tion  and  lively  fancy,  nature  carried  him  toward 
the  other  fex  with  fuch  eager  fondnefs,  that  he 
1 4  foon 


i62         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

fooii  became  lafcivious.  Had  he  given  way  to 
thefe  deiircs,  the  fire  would  have  extinguiflied  it^ 
felf  in  a  natural  manner  -,  but  virtue,  and  a 
romantic  kind  of  deUcacy,  made  him  pravitile  lelf  • 
denial  j  yetj  when  fear,  delicacy,  or  virtue, 
reftrained  him,  he  debauched  his  imagination^ 
and  refle(fting  on  the  fenfations  to  which  fancy 
gave  foree^  he  traced  them,  in  the  me&il  glmving 
folours,  and  funk  them  deep  into  his-  foul^.  , 
/-  'He  then  fought  for  foiitude,  not  to  lleep  vvith 
the  man  of  nature  ;  or  calmly  iiivefhigate  the 
caufes  of  things  under  the  iliade.  wJiere  Sir  Ifaae 
Newton  indulged  contemplation,  but  merely  to 
indulge  his  feeliilgs.  And  fo  warmly  has  he 
painted,  what  he  forcibly  felt,  that,  interefling 
the  heart  apd  .  inflaming  the  imagination  of  his 
reader?  j  in  proportion  to  the  ibrength  of  their 
fjincy^  they  imagine  that  their  underftanding  is 
convinced  when  they  only  fympathizewith  a  po-* 
ctic  writer,  who  fkilfully  exhibits  the  objed:s  of 
fenfe,  moft  voluptuoufly  ihadowed  or  gracefully 
veiled — And  thus  making  us  feel  whilll  dream-^ 
ing  that  we  reafoii,  erroneous  epnclufions  are  left 
in  the  mind.  . .       ,     . 

Why  was  RoufTeau's  life  divided  between  ec- 
i^acy  and  mifery  ?  Can  any  other  anfwer  be  given 
than  this,  that  the  effervefcence  of  his  imagina-* 
tion  produced  both  ;  but,  had  his-  fancy  been  al- 
lowed to  cool,  it  is  polTible  that  he  might  have 
acquired  more  flrength  of  mind.  Still,  if  the 
purpofe  of  life  be  to  educate  the  intelledual  part 
of  man,  all  vvith  refpedt  to  him  was  right  ;  yet, 
had  not  death  led  to  a  nobler  fcene  of  adiion^  it 
is   probable   tliat   he  would  have  enj-oyed  more 

eq^ual 


RiOHtS  OP  WOMAN.  tS^ 

equal  happinefs  on  earth,  and  have  felt  the  calm 
Icnfatjons  of  the  man  of  nature  inllead  of  being 
prepared  for  another  ftage  of  exiftence  by  nourifh- 
ing  the  pafiions  which  agitate  the  civilized  man. 
But  peace  to  his  manes  !  I  war  not  with  his 
aflies,  but  his  opinions.  I  war  only  with  the 
lenfibiHty  that  led  him  to  degrade  woman  by 
making  her  the  (lave  of  love. 


— — *-*  Curs'd  vaflalage^ 
'  Firft  idoliz'd  tili  love's  hot  fire  be  o'er, 
•  Then  flavej  to  thofe  who  courted  at  before. 


Diydien, 


The  pernicious  tendency  of  thofe  books,  in 
\vhich  the  writers  infidioufly  degrade  the  fex 
whilfl  they  are  proftrate  before  their  perfonal 
charms,  cannot  be  too  often  or  too  feverely  ex- 
poled. 

Let  us,  my  dear  contemporaries,  arife]above  fucfi 
narrow  prejudices  !  If  wifdom  is  defirable  on  its 
own  account,  if  virtue,  to  deferve  the  name,  muft . 
be  founded  on  knowledge  -,  let  us  endeavour  to 
ilrengthen  our  minds  by  rcHedtion,  till  our  heads 
become  a  balance  for  our  hearts  ^  let  us  not  con- 
fine all  our  thoughts  to  the  petty  occurrences  of 
the  day,  nor  our  knowledge  to  an  acquaintance 
with  our  lovers*  or  hufbands'  hearts  ;  but  let  the 
prad:ice  of  every  duty  be  f^ubordinate  to  the  grand 
one  of  improving  Oiir  minds,  and  preparing  our 
affedlions  for  a  more  exalted  ilate  ! 

Beware  the;n,  my  friends,  of  fuffering  the  heart 

to  be  moved  by  every  trivial  incident :  the  reed  is 

fliaken  by   a  breeze,    and  annually  dies,   but  the 

C'ak  (lands  firm,   and  for  ages  braves  the  florra  ! 

L  2  Were 


i64        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

Were  we,  indeed,  only  created  to  flutter  our 
hour  out  and  die — why  let  us  then  indulge  fen- 
fibility,  and  laugh  at  the  feverity  of  reafon — Yet, 
alas  !  even  then  we  fhould  want  flrfength  of  body 
and  mind,  and  life  would  be  loft  in  feverifh  plea- 
iures  or  wearifome  languor. 

But  the  fyftem  of  education,  which  I  earneftly 
wifh  to  fee  exploded,,  feems  to  prefuppofe  what 
ought  never  to  be  taken  for  granted,  that  virtue 
fhiekis  us  from  the  cafualties  of  life  -,  and  that  for- 
tune, flipping  ofl^  her  bandage,  will  fmile  on  a 
well-educated  female,  and  bring  in  her  hand  an 
Emilius  or  a  Telemachus.  Whilft,  on  the  con- 
trary, the  reward  which  v^irtue  promifes  to  her 
votaries  is  confined,  it  is  clear,  to  their  own  bo- 
foms  J  and  often  muft  they  contend  with  the 
moft  vexatious  worldly  cares,  and  bear  with  the 
vi^es  and  humours  of  relations  for  whom  they 
can  never  feel  a  friendfliip. 

There  have  been  many  women  in  the  world 
who,  inftead  of  being  fupported  by  the  reafon 
and  virtue  of  their  fathers  and  brothers,  have 
itrengthened  their  ow^n  minds  by  ftruggling  with 
their  vices  and  follies  ;  yet  have  never  met  with 
a  hero,  in  the  Ihape  of  a  hufband  ;  who,  paying 
the  debt  that  mankind  owed  them,  might  chance 
to  bring  back  their  reafon  to  its  natural  depend- 
ent ftate,  and  reftore  the  ufurped  prerogative,  of 
riling  above  opinion,  to  man. 

SECT.       II. 


Dr.  Fordyce's  fermons  have  long  made  a 
part  of  a  young  woman's  library ;    nay,  girls  at 

fchool 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  165 

ibhool  are  allowed  to  read  them ;  but  I  (hould 
inftantly  difmifs  them  from  my  pupil's,  if  I  wifh- 
ed  to  llrengthen  her  undcrftanding,  by  leading 
her, to  form  found  principles  on  a  broad  bafis  ; 
or,  were  I  only  anxious  to  cultivate  her  tafte  ; 
though  they  mud  be  allowed  to  contain  many 
icnfiblc  obfervations. 

Dr.  Fordyce  may  have  had  a  very  laudable  end 
in  view  j  but  thefe  difcourfes  are  written  in  fuch 
an  affected  fliyle,  that  were  it  only  on  that  ac- 
count, and  had  I  nothing  to  obje6l  againft  his 
mellijiuous  precepts,  I  fhould  not  allow  girls  to 
perufe  them,  unlefs  I  defigned  io  hunt  every  fpark 
of  nature  out  of  their  compofition,  melting  every 
human  quality  into  female  weaknefs  and  artiiicial 
grace.  I  fay  artificial,  for  true  grace  arifes  from 
fame  kind  of  independence  of  mind. 

Children,  carelefs  of  pleafmg,  and  only  anxious 

to  amufe  themfelves,  are  often  very  graceful  ; 

and  the  nobility  who  have  moftly  lived  with  in- 

feriours,  .and  always  had  the  command  of  money, 

acquire  a  gracefui  eafe   of  deportment,   which 

fliould    rather  be  termed  habitual  grace  of  body, 

than  that  fuperiour  graceful nefs  which   is    truly 

the  expreffion  of  the  mind.     This  mental  grace, 

not  noticed  by  vulgar  eyes,  often  flafhes   acrofs  a 

rough  countenance,  and  irradiating  every  feature, 

fhowsfimplicity  and  independence  of  mind. — It  h 

|:hen  we  read  characTters  of  immortality  in  the  eye, 

-and  fee  the  foul  in  every  gellure,  though  when  at 

reft,  neither  tlie  face  nor  limbs-may   have   much 

beauty  to  riscorpmend  th<^,m  j  or  the   behaviour, 

any  thing  peculiar  to  attrad:  univerfal   attention. 

The  mafs  of  mankind,  however,  look  for  more 


l66        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

tangible  beauty  -,  yet  flmplicity  is,  in  general,  ad- 
mired, when  people  do  not  confider  what  they 
admire  ;  and  can  there  be  fimpHcity  without 
fmcerity  ?  But,  to  have  done  with  remarks  that 
are  in  Ibme  meafure  defultory,  though  naturally 
excited  by  the  fabjeifl — 

In.  declamatory  periods  Dr.  Fordyce  fpins  out 
RoufTeau's  eloquence  3  and  in  moft  fentimental 
rant,  details  his  opinions  refpeding  the  female 
charadler,  and  the  behaviour  which  woman  ought 
to  afTume  to  render  her  lovely. 

He  fhall  fpeak  for  himfelf,  for  thus  he  makes 
Nature  addrefs  man.     *  Behold  thefe  fmiling  in- 

*  nocents,  whom   I  have  graced  with  my  faireft 

*  gifts,  and  committed   to  your  protedion  ;    be- 

*  hold   them  with  love  and  rcfpedl  ;  treat  them 

*  with  tendernefs  and  honour.     They   are   timid 

*  and  want  to  be  defended.     They  are  frail  3   O 

*  do  not  take  advantage  of  their  weaknefs  !    Let 

*  their  fears  and  blufhe*  endear  them.     Let  their 

*  confidence  in  you  never  be  abufed. — But  is  it 

*  poflible,  than  any  of  you  can  be  fuch  barbarians, 

*  (o  fupremely  wicked,  as  to  abufe  it  ?  Can  you 
'  find  in  your  hearts  *  to  del'poil  the  gentle,  truft- 
'  ing  creatures  of  their  treafure,  or  do  any  thing 

*  to  flrip  them  of  their  native  robe  of  virtue  ? 
^  Curft  be  the  impious  hand  that  would  dare  to 

*  violate  the  unblemifhed  form  of  Chaftity  !  Thou 

*  wretch  !  thou  ruffian  !  forbear  ;  nor  venture  to 
?  provoke  heaven's  iierceft  vengeance.'  I  know 
not  any  comment  that  can  be  made  feriouily  on 
this  curious  paffage,  and  I  could  produce  iiiany 

fmiilar 

•  Can  yqu  ?— Can  you  ?  would  be  thp  Hjqft  emphatical  coirnnent;  w?rf 
\i  drawled  out  in  a  v/hining  Yoi?e, 


RIGHTS  OP  WOMAN.  1^7 

llmiiar  ones ;  and  fome,  fo  very  fentimental,  that 
I  have  heard  rational  men  ufe  the  word  indecent, 
when  they  mentioned  them  with  difguft. 

Throughout  there  is  a  difplay  of  cold  artificial 
feelings,  and  that  parade  of  fenlibility  which  boys 
and  girls  ihould  be  taught  to  defpife  as  the  fure 
mark  of  a  little  vain  mind.  Florid  appeals  arc 
made  to  heaven,  and  to  the  beauteous  innocent:^ 
the  faireft  images  .of  heaven  here  below,  whilft 
fober  {^wit  is  left  far  behind.^ — This  is  not  the 
language  of  the  heart,  nor  will  it  ever  reach  it, 
thougii  the  ear  may  be  tickled. 

I  ihall  be  told/ perhaps,  that  the  public  Iiav6 
been  pleafed  with  thefe  volumes. — True— and 
Heryey's  Meditations  are  ftill  read,  though  he 
equally  finned  againil:  fenfe  and  talle.  .!    . 

I  particularly  objed  to  the  lover-like  phrafes 
of  puiiiped  up  pauion,  which  are  every  where 
interfperfed.  If  women  be  ever  allowed  to  walk 
without  leading-firings,  why  mull:  they  be  cajol- 
ed into  virtue  by  artful  flattery  j^d  fexual  com- 
pliments ? — Speak  to  them  the  language  of  truth 
and  fobernefs,  and  a\vay  wdth  the  lullaby  ftrains 
of  con  defcending  endearment !  Let  them  be  taught 
to  refpe(5t  themfelves  as  rational  creatures,  and' 
not  led  to  have  a  paflion  for  their  own  infipid 
perfons.  It  moves  my  gall  to  hear  a  preacher 
defcanting  on  drefs  and  needle-work  ;  and  ftill 
more,  to  hear  him  addrefs  the  Britijh  fair,  the 
fo.ircjl  of  the  fair,  as  if  they  had  only  feehngs,. 

Even  recommending  piety  he  ufes  the  follow- 
ing argument.     *  Never,    perhaps,    does  a  fine 
*  woman  ftrike  more  deeply,  than  when,  compo- 
vic4  i^^to  pious  recolledion,  and   polTefled  with 
L  4  *  the 


i68         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

'  the  nobkft  confiderations,  {he  afTumes,  without 

*  knowing  it,  fuperiour  dignity  an,d  new  graces  ; 

*  fo  that  the  beauties  of  holinefs  feem  to  radiate 

*  about  her,  and  the  by-ftanders  are  ahnoll  indu- 
'  ced  to  fancy  her  already  worshipping  amongfl 

*  her  kindred  angels  !'  Why  are  women  to  be 
thus  bred  up  with  a  defire  of  conqueft  r  .the  ve- 
ry epithet,  ufed  in  this  fenfe,  gives  me  a  fickly 
qualm  !  Does  religion  and  virtue  offer  no  flrong- 
er  motives,  no  brighter  reward  ?  Muft  they  al- 
ways be  debafed  by  being  made  to  confider  the 
fex  of  their  companions  ?  Muft  they  be  taught 
always  to  be  pleafing  ?  And  when  levelling  their 
fmall  artillery  at  the  heart  of  man,  is  it  necelTary 
to  tell  them  that  a  little  fenfe  is  fufficient  to  ren- 
der their  attention   incredibly  foothing  ?  •/Ap,  a 

*  fmall  degree  of  knowledge  entertains  in  a  wo- 

*  man,  fo  from  a  woman,   though  for  a  different 

*  reafon,   a  fmall  expreffion  of  kindnefs  delights, 

*  particularly  if  fhe  have  beauty  !' .  I  fhouldhave 
Tpppofed  for  the  fame  reafon. 

Why  are  girls  to  be  told  th^t  they  refemble 
angels ;  but  to  fmk  them  below  women  ?  Or, 
that  a  gentle  innocent  female  is  an  objedt  that 
comes  nearer  to  the  idea  which  we  have  formed 
of  angels  than  any  other.  Yet  they  are  told,  at 
the  fame  time,  that  they  are  only  like  angels  when 
they  are  young  and  beautiful  .;  confequently,  it  is 
their  perfons,  not  their  virtues,  that  procure  them 
this  homage. 

Idle  empty  words  !  What  can  fuch  deluiive 
flattery  lead  to,  but  vanity  and  f<:)lly  ?  The  lover, 
it  is  true,  has  a  poetic  licence  to  exalt  his  mif- 
^refs  y  his  reaibn  is  the  bubble  of  hispalTion,  and 

he 


RIGHTS  OF  WQMAN.  169 

he  does  not  yttpr  a  flilfehood  when  he  borrows 
the  language  of  adoration.  His  imagination  may 
raife  the  idol  of  his  heart,  unblamed,  above  hu- 
manity ;  and  happy  would  it  be  for  women,  if 
they  were  only  flattered  by  the  men  who  loved 
them  ;  I  mean  v/ho  loved  the  individual,  not  the 
fex  ;  but  fliould  a  grave  preacher  interlard  his 
difcourfes  with  fuch  fooleries  ? 

In  fermons  or  novels,  hovv'ever,  voluptuouf- 
nefs  is  always  true  to  its  text.  Men  are  allowed 
by  moralifts  to  cultivate,  as  Nature  dire(5ts,  dif- 
ferent qualities,  and  affume  the  different  chara(^t- 
ers,  that  the  fame  palTions,  modiiied  almoft  to 
infinity,  give  to  each  individual.  A  virtuous  man 
may  have  a  choleric  or  a  fanguine  conftitution, 
be  gay  or  grave,  unreproved  3  be  firm  till  he  is 
almoft  overbearing,  or,  weakly  fubmilTive,  have 
no  will  9r  opinion  of  his  own  ;  but  all  women 
are  to  be  levelled,  by  meeknefs  and  docility,  into 
one  charad:er  of  yielding  foftnefs  and  gentle  com- 
pliance. 

I  will  ufe  the  preacher's   own  words.     *  Let 

*  it  be  obferved,  that  in  your  fex  manly  exercifes 

*  are  never  graceful ;  that  in  them  a  tone  and  fig- 

*  ure,  as  well  as  an  air  and  deportment,  of  the 
'  mafculine  kind,  are  always  forbidding;  and  that 

*  men  of  fenfibility  defire  in  every  woman  foft 
'  features,  and  a  flowing  voice,  a  form,  not  ro- 
'  bufl,  and  demeanour  delicate  and  gentle.' 

Is  not  the  following  portrait — the  portrait  of 
a  houfe  flave  ?  *  I  ain  aflonhlied  at  the  folly  of 
'  many  women,  v/ho  are   full   reproaching  their 

*  hufl)ands  for  leaving  them  alone,  for  preferring 
f  this  or   that  company  to   theirs,   for   treating 

*  them 


170         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

*  thcni  with  this  and  the  other  mark  of  difregard 

*  or  indifference  ;  when,  to  fpeak  the  truth,  they 

*  have  themfelves  in  a  great   meafure   to  blame. 

*  Not  that  I  would  juftify  the  men  in  any  thing 

*  wrong  on  their  part.     But  had  you  behaved  to 

*  them    with   more  refpeSlJlil  ohfervance,  and  a 

*  more  equal  tcndernefs  -,  Jiudy'mg  their  hiimoursy 
*■  overlooking   their   mijiakes^  fubmitting  to    their 

*  opinions  in  matters  indifferent,  paffing  by  little 

*  inftances   ot'  unevennefs,  caprice,    cr    paffion, 

*  giving  yi"//  anfwers  to  hafry  words,    complain- 

*  ing  as  icldom  as  poffible,  and  making  it  your 

*  daily  care  to  relieve  their  anxieties  and  prevent 

*  their  wiflies^  to  enliven  the  hour  of  dulnefs, 
-  and  call  up  the  ideas  of  felicity  :  had  you  p^ir- 
'  fued  this  condud:,  I  doubt  not  but  you  would 
•■  have  maintained  and  even  increafcd  their  efleem, 
'  fo  far  as  to  have  lecured  every  degree   of  influ- 

*  encc  that  could  conduce  to  their  virtue,  or 
'*■  your  mutual  latisfadrion  j  and  your  houfe  might 
'  at  this  day  have  been  the  abode  of  domeftic 
*'  blifs.'  Such  a  woman  ouG;ht  to  be  an  an^el — • 
or  Ihe  is  an  afs — for  I  difcern  not  a  trace  of  the 
human  character,  neither  reafon  nor  paffion  in 
this  domeflic  drudge,  whofe  being  is  abforbed 
in  that  of  a  tyrant's. 

Still' Dr.  Fordyce  muft  have  very  little  ac^ 
quaintance  with  the*  human  heart,  if  he  really 
fuppofcd  that  fuch  condu6t  w^ould  bring  back 
wanderine  love,  inll:ead  of  excitir^g  contempt. 
No,  beauty,  gentlenefs,  &c,  &c.  may  gain  a 
heart  ;  but  efleem,  the  only  lafting  affcdlion, 
can  alone  be  obtained  by  virtue  fupported  by  rea- 
fon. It  is  rcfpedt  for  the  underfranding  that 
keepsialive  tendernefb"  for  the  perfon.  As 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN. 


71 


As  thefe  vdliimes  are  fo  frequently  put  into 
the  hands  of  young  people,  I  have  taken  more 
notice  of  them  than,  ftridlly  fpeaking,  they  de- 
fcrve ;  but  as  they  have  contributed  to  vitiate  the 
tafte,  and  enervate  the  underftanding  of  many  of 
my  fellov^r-creatures,  I  could  notpafs  themfilent- 
ly  over, 

SECT.       III. 

Such  paternal  folicitute  pervades  Dr.  Grego- 
ry's Legacy  to  his  Daughters,  that  I  enter  on  the 
taOc  of  criticifm  with  affectionate  refpedl  ;  but  as 
this  little  volume  has  many  attractions  to  recom- 
mend it  to  the  notice  of  the  moft  refps6table  part 
of  my  fex,  I  cannot  filently  pafs  over  arguments 
that  fo  fpecioully  fupport  opinions  which,  I  think, 
have  had  the  mofl  baneful  effedt  on  the  morals 
and  manners  of  the  female  world. 

His  eafy  familiar  ilyle  is  particularly  fuited  to 
the  tenor  of  his  advice,  and  the  melancholy  ten- 
dernefs  v/hich  his  refpecft  for  the  memory  of  a  be- 
loved wife,  diffufes  through  the  v/hole  work,  ren- 
ders it  very  interefting  ;  yet  there  is  a  degree  of 
concife  elegance  confpicuoiis  in  many  pafi'ages 
that  difturbs  this  fympathy  ;  and  we  pop  on  the 
author,  when  we  only  expedled  to  m^eet  the-— 
father. 

Befides,  having  two  objevfts  in  vie^,  he  feldom 
adhered  flcadily  to  cither  ;  for  vviihing  to  make 
his  daughters  amiable,  and  fearing -lelV  unhappi- 
nefs  (liould  only  be  the  CQnfequence,  of  inllilling 
fentimcnts  that  midit  draw  them  out  of  the  track 
of  common  Ufj   without   enabling  thcra    to   adt 

ivith 


172         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

with  confonant  independence  and  dignity,  he 
checks  the  natural  flow  of  his  thoughts,  and  nei- 
ther advifes  one  thing  nor  the  other. 

In  the  preface  he  tells  them  a  mournful  truth, 

*  that  they  will  hear,  at  leali  once  in  their  lives, 

*  the  genuine  fentiments  of  a  man  who  has  no  in- 

*  tereit  in  deceiving  them.'  ': 

Haplefs  woman  !  what  can  be  expedted  from 
thee  when  the  beings  on  whom  thou  art  faid  na- 
turally to  depend  for  reafon  and  fupport,  have  all 
an  interefl  in  deceiving  thee  !  This  is  the  root  of 
the  evil  that  has  fed  a  corroding  mildew  on  all 
thy  virtues. ;;  and  blighting  in  the  bud  thy  open- 
ing faculties,  has  rendered  thee  die  weak  thing 
thou  art  1  It  is  this  feparate  interefl — this  in- 
iidious  ilate  of  warfare,  that  undermines  i^o- 
rality,  and  divides  njankind  ! 

If  love  have  made  fome  women  wretched — - 
Jiovv  many  more  has  the  cold  unmeaning  inter- 
courfe  of  gallantry  rendered  vain  and  ufelefs  !  y^t 
this  heartlefs  attention  to  the  fex  is  reckoned  fo 
manly,  fo  polite,  that  till  fociety  is  very  differ- 
ently organized,  I  fear,  tljis  veftige  of  gothic  man- 
ners will  not  be  done  away  by  a  more  reafonable 
and  affectionate  mode  of  condud.  Befides,  to 
ftrip  it  of  its  imaginary  dignity,  I  mufl:  obferve, 
that  in  the  mofl:  uncivilized  European  Hates  this 
lip-fervice  prevails  in  a  very  great  degree,  accom- 
panied with  extreme  dilfolutenefs  of  morals.  In 
Portugal,  the.  country  that  I  particularly  allude 
IP,  it  takes  place  of  the  mod  ferious  moral  obli- 
gations 5  for  a  man  is  feldom  airaiTinated  when  in 
the  company  of  a  woman.  The  favage  hand  of 
rapine  is  unnerved  by  this  chivalrous  fpirit ;  and^ 

if 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN,  173 

if  the  ftroke  of  vengeance  cannot  be  ftaycd— the 
lady  is  entreated  to  pardon  the  rudenefs  and  de- 
part in  peace,  though  fprinkled,  perhaps,  with 
her  hufhand's  or  brothers  blood.  .^iiirns^i  *' 

I  fliall  pafs  over  his  ftri6tures  on  religion,  be- 
caufe  I  mean  to  difcufs  th^t'f«feje<2:  in'  a-feparate 
chapter.  -  1  -'^  v.  wj'        ..  •  ^.  ' 

The  femarks   relative  to  behaviour, '  thottgli 
many  of  them  very  fenfible,  I  entirely  dilapprove 
of,  becaufe  it  appears  to  me  to  be  beginning,  as  it 
were,  at  the   wrong  end.     A  cultivated  iinder- 
ftanding,  and  an  affediionate  heart,   wilL  never 
want  ftarched  rules  of  decorum— fomething  more 
fubftantial  than  feemlinefs    will  be  the  refult  j 
and,  without  underftanding  the  behaviour   here 
recommended,  would  be  rank  afFedlation.     De- 
corum, indeed,  is  the  one  thing  needful  ! — deco- 
rum is  to  fupplant  nature,  and  banifh  all  iimpli- 
city  and  variety  of  character  out  of  the  female' 
world.     Yet  what  good  end  can  all  this  fuperfi- 
cial  counfel  produce  ?  It  is,  however,  much  eafi- 
er  to  point  out  this  or  that  mode  of  behaviour, 
than  to  fet  the   reafon  to  work  ;  but,  when  ther 
mind  has  been  ftored  with  ufeful  knowledge,  and 
ftrengthened  by  being  employed,  tlie   regulation 
of  the  behaviour  may  fafely  be  left  to  its  guid- 
ance. 

Why,  for  inflance,  fhould  the  following  cau- 
tion be  given  when  art  of  every  kind  muft  con- 
taminate the  mind  ;  and  why  entangle  the  grand 
motives  of  action,  which  realon  and  religion  equal- 
ly combine  to  enforce,  with  pitiful  worldlv  Inifts 
and  (light  of  hand  tricks  to  gain  the  applaiafe  ot' 
gaping  taftelefs  fools  ?  *  Be  even  cautious  in  dif- 

'  pl.mng 


174        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

'  playing  your  good  fenfe**     It  will  be  thought 

*  you  afllime  a  luperiority  over  the    reft   of  the 

*  company — But  if  you  happen  to  have  any 
'*  learning,  keep  it  a  profound  fecret,  efpecially 

*  from  the  men,  who  generally  look  with  a  jeal- 

*  ous  and  malignant  eye  on  a   woman  of  great 

*  parts,  and  a  cultivated  underftanding.'  If  men 
of  real  merit,  as  he  afterwards  obferves,  are  fupe- 
riour  to  this  meannefs,  where  is  the  necefiity 
that  the  behaviour  of  the  whole  fex  fliould  be 
modulated  to  pleafe  fools,  or  men,  who  having 
little  claim  to  refpedl  as  individuals,  choofe  to 
keep  clofe  in  their  phalanx.  Men,  indeed,  who 
infift  on  their  common  fuperiority,  having  only 
this  fexual  fuperiority,  are  certainly  very  excufa- 
ble. 

There  would  be  no  end  to  rules  for  behaviour, 
if  it  be  proper  always  to  adopt  the  tone  of  the 
company ;  for  thus,  for  ever  varying  the  key,  a 
J/at  would  often  pafs  for  a  natural  note. 

Surely  it  would  have  been  wifer  to  have  advifed 
women  to  improve  themfelves  till  they  rofe  above . 
the  fumes  of  vanity  ;  and  then  to  let  the  public 
opinion  come  round — for  where  arc  rules  of  ac- 
commodation to  ftop  ?  The  narrow  path  of  truth 
and  virtue  inclines  neither  to  the  right  nor  left- 
it  is  a  ftraight-forward  bufmefs,  and  they  who 
are  earneftly  purfuing  their  road,  may  bound  over 
many  decorous  prejudices,  without  leaving  mo- 
fiQ.^y  behind.  Make  the  heart  clean,  and  give 
the  head  employment,  and  I  will  venture  to  pre- 
didt  that  there  will  be  nothing  offcnlive  in  the 
behaviour.  The 

•  Let  women   once  acquire   good    fenfc— and  if  It  deferve  the  rtamr,it 
v.irl  teach '.iicpii  or,  of  what  ulc  will  it  be  i"  how  to  emijluy  it. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  17^ 

The  air  of  faflaion,  which  many  young  people 
aje  fo  eager  to  attain^  always  ilrikes  me  like  the 
ftudied  attitudes  of  fome  modern  prints,  copied 
with  taftelefs  fervility  after  the  antiques  j — the 
foul  is  left  but,  and  none  of  the  parts  are  tied  to- 
gether by  what  may  properly  be  termed  character,- 
This  v^rniili  of  faihion,  which  feldom  flicks  ve- 
ry clofe  to  fenfe,  may  dazzle  the  weak ;  but  leave 
nature  to  itfelf>  and  it  will  feldom  difgufl  the 
wife.,  Befides,  when  a  woman  has  liifficient  fenfe 
not  to  pretend  to  any  thing  which  (lie  does  noS 
underftand  in  fome  degree,  there  is -no  need  o£ 
determining  to  hide  her  talents  under  a  bufhel* 
Let  things  take  their  natural  courfe,  and  all  wili 
be  well. 

j.  It  is  this  fyflem  of  difiimulation,  throughout 
the  volume,  that  I  defpifc.  Women  are  always; 
to  Jc'em  to  be  this  and  that — yet  virtue  might 
apoflrophize  them,  in  the  words  of  Hamlet — 
Seems  1  I  know  not  feems  1 — Have  that  within 
that  pafTeth  fhow  I — 

Still  the  fame  tone  occurs  >  for  in  another 
place,  after  recommending,  without  fufficiently 
difcriminating  delicacy,  he  adds,  *  The  men  will 

*  complain   of  your    referve.     They    will  allure 

*  you  that  a  franker  behaviour  would  make  you 

*  more  amiable.  But,  truft  me,  they  are  not  lin- 
'  cere  when    they  tell  you  fo. — I   acknowledge, 

*  that  on  fome  occalions  it  might  render  you  more 
'  agreeable  as  companions,  but  it  would  make  ycu 

*  lefs  amiable  as  women  :  an  important  didinc- 

*  tion,  which  many  of  your  fex  arc  not  aware  of.' 

This  delire  of  being  always  women,  is  the  very 
confcioufnefs  that  degrades  the  fex.     Excepting 

V.  itii 


17^        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

Vfiih  a  lOver,  I  mufl  repeat  with  emphads,  a  for-* 
mer  obfervation, — it  would  be  well  if  they  were 
only  agreeable  or  rational  Gonrjpanions. — But  in 
this  refpecft  his  advice  is  even  inconliftent  with  a 
paflage  which  I  mean  to  quote  with  the  mofl 
marked  approbation. 

'  The  fen timent   that  a  v/oman  may  allow  all 

*  innocent  freedoms,   provided  her   virtue  is  fe- 

*  cure,  is   both   grofsly  indelicate  and  dangerous, 

*  and  has  proved  fatal  to  many  of  your  lex.'  With 
this  opinion  I  perfe6tly  coincide.  A  man,  or  a 
woman,  of  any  feeling,  mufl  always  wifh  to  con- 
vince a  beloved  object  that  it  is  the  carefles  of  the 
individual,  not  the  fex,  that  is  received  and  re- 
turned with  pleafure ;  and  that  the  heart,  rather 
than  the  fenfes,  is  moved.  Without  this  natural 
delicacy,  love  becomes  a  felfidi  pcrfonal  gratifi-* 
cation  that  foon  degrades  the  charad:er. 

I  carry  this  fentiment  ftill  further.  Affec- 
tion, when  love  is  out  of  tile  quertiofi,  authofifes 
many  perfonal  endearments,  that  naturally  flow- 
ing from  an  innocent  heart,  give  life  to  the  behav- 
iour 3  but  the  perfonal  intercourfe  of  appetite, 
gallantry,  or  vanity,  is  defpicable.  When  a  mart 
fqueezes  the  hand  of  a  pretty  woman,  handing 
her  to  a  carriage,  whom  he  has  never  feen  before, 
fhc  will  conlider  fuch  an  impertinent  freedom  in 
the  light  of  an  infult,  if  flie  have  any  true  delica- 
cy, inflead  of  being  flattered  by  this  unmeaning 
homage  to  beauty.  Thefe  are  the  privileges  of 
friendlhip,  or  the  momentary  homage  which  the 
lieart  pays  to  virtue,  when  it  flaflies  fuddenly  on 
the  notice — m.ere  animal  fpirits  have  no  claim  to 
the  kindnefies  of  afl'cd:iQn. 

Wiiliing 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN./         \^j 

Williins:  to  feed  the  aite6libn3  with  v/h^t  is  now 
the  food  of  vanity,  I  would  fain  perfuade  my  fex 
fo  a6t  from  fimpkr  principles.  Let  them  merit 
love,  and  they  will  obtain  it,  though  they  may 
never  be  told  that — '  The  power  of  a  fine  woman' 
'  over  the  hearts  of  men,  of  men  of  the  fineft 
*  parts,  is  everi  beyond  what  ^o.  conceives/ 

I  have  already  noticed  the  narrow  cautions 
with  refpedt  to  duplicity,  female  foftnefs,  delicacy 
of  conilitutidn  *,  ixsx:  thefe  are  the  changes  which 
he  rings  round  without  ceanng — \\\  a  more  de- 
corous manner,  it  is  true,  than  Rouilcaii  ;  but  it 
aU  comes  home  to  the  fame  pointy  and  whoever 
is  at  the  trouble  to  analyze  thefe  fentirhents,  wiH 
Bnd  the  firfl:  principles  not  quite  fo  delicate  as 
the  fuperftrudure. 

The  fubje(5t  of  amufements  is  treated  in  too 
curfory  a  manner  ;  but  with  the  fame  fpirit. 

When  I  treat  of  friendfhip,  love,  and  marriage^ 
it  will  be  found  that  we  materially  differ  in  opin- 
ion y  I  fliali  not  then  foreftall  what  I  have  to 
obferve  on  thefe  important  fubje6t3  ;  biit  confine 
iTiy  remarks  to  the  general  tenor  of  them,  to  that 
Cairtious  family  prudence,  to  tliofc  confined  vievv^s 
of  partial  unenlightened  affedtiori,  which  exclude 
pleaf<ire  and  improvement,  by  vainly  wifhing  to 
ward  of?  forrow  and  error — and  by  thus  guarding 
the  heart  and  mind,  deftroy  a=lfo  all  their  energy. 
It  is  fa^  bettei"  to  be  often  deceived  th-an  never  to 
tTuft:  3  to  be  difappointed  in  love  than  never  to 
love  J  to  lofe'ahu'fband-'s  fondnefs  than- forfeit  his 
fefteen^'. 

Happy  would  it  be  for  the  world,  and  for  in- 
dividuals^, of  Gourfe,  if  all:  this-  unavailing  foiici* 
M  tude 


178         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

tude  to  attain  worldly  happlnefs,  on  a  confined  plan, 
were  turned  into  an  anxious  defire  to  improve 
the  under/landing. — *  Wifdom  is  the  principal 
'  thing  :  therefore  get  wifdom  ;  and  with  all  thy 

*  gettings  get  underftanding/ — *  How  long,  ye 

*  limple  ones,  will  ye  love  limplicity,    and  hate 

*  knowledge  ?'  laith  Wifdom  to  the  daughters  of 
men  ! 

SECT.       IV- 

\  tio  not  mean  to  allude  to  all  the  writers  who 
have  written  on  the  fubje^l  of  female  manners — 
it  would,  in  fadt,  be  only  beating  over  the  old 
ground,  for  they  have  in  general,  written  in  the 
fame  ftrain  ;  but  attacking  the  boafled  prerogative 
of  man— the  prerogative  that  may  emphatically 
be  called  the  iron  fceptre  of  tyranny,  the  original 
fin  of  tyrantSj  I  declare  againft  all  power  built  on 
prejudices,  however  hoary. 

If  the  fubmiffion  demanded  be  founded.on  juftice 
— there  is  no  appealing  to  a  higher  power — for 
God  is  Juftice  itfelf.  Let  us  then,  as  children  of 
the  fame  parent,  if  not  baflardized  by  being  the 
younger  born,  reafon  together,  a^d  learn  to 
lubmit  to  the  authority  of  reason — when  her  voice 
is  diftindlly  heard.  But,  if  it  be  proved,  that  this 
throne  of  prerogative  only  rells  on  a  chaotic 
mafs  of  prejudices,  th'at  have  no  inherent  princi- 
ple of  order  to  keep  tjiem  together,  or  on  an  el- 
ephant, tortoife,  or  even  the  mighty  fhoulders  of 
a  fon  of  the  earth,  they  may  efcape,  who  dare  to 
brave  the  confequence,  without  any  breach  of  du- 
ty, without  fmning  againfV  the  order  of  things. 

Wlulfl 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  179 

.  Whilil  reafon  raifes  man  above  the  brutal  herd, 
aad  death  is  big  with  promifes,  they  alone  are 
fubjed  to  blind  authority  who  have  no  reliance 
on  their  own  ftrength,  *  They  are  free — who 
will  be  free*  !' — 

The  being  who  cart  govern  itfelf  has  nothing, 
to  fear  in  life  ;  but  if  any  thing  is  dearer  than  its 
own  refpedt,  the  price  rnuft  be  paid  to  the  lafl: 
farthing.  Virtue,  like  every  thing  valuable,  muiltT 
be  loved  for  herfelf  alone  ;  or  flie  will  not  take) 
up  her  abode  with  us.  She  will  not  impart  tha,!^ 
peace,  *  which  pafleth  underflanding,  when  did 
is  merely  made  the  ftilts  of  reputation  ;  and  re^^, 
fpeded,  v/ith  pharifaical  exadnefs,  becaufe*  hon-*. 
efty  is  the  beft  policy.*  .  ^ 

That  the  plan  of  life  which  enables  us  to  car^^ 
ry  fome  knowledge  and  virtue  into  another  world,- 
IS  the  one  befl  calculated  to  enfure  content  in 
this,  cannot  be  denied  -,  yet  few  people  ad:  ac- 
cording to  this  principle,  though  it  be  univerfal- 
ly  allowed  that  it  admit  not  of  difpute.  Prefent 
pleafure,  or  prefent  power,  carry  before  it  thefe 
fober  convictions  ;  and  it  is  for  the  day,  not  for 
life,  that  man  bargains  with  happinefs.  Hov/ 
few  ! — hov/  very  few  !  have  fufficient  forefight, 
or  refolutlon,  to  endure  a  fmall  evil  at  the  mo- 
ment, to  avoid  a  greater  hereafteri 

Woman  in  particular,  whofe  virtue  -f  is  built 

on  mutual  prejudices,  feldom  attains  to  this  great- 

nefs  of  mind  ;    To  that,  becoming  the  Have  of  her 

own  feelings,  {he  is  eafJy  fubjugated  by  thofe  of 

M2  others. 

**  ft'e  is  the  free  mah,  whom  the /ra//&  makes  free  r  Cowfe/'i 

t  I  mean  to  ufe  a  word  that  ccmprchenOs  inoi«  than  chsflity  the  /eitu»t 
virtue. 


i&o        VINJDICATION  OF  THI* 

others.  Thus  degraded,  her  reafon,  her  mifly 
reafon  !  is  employed  rather  to  burnifh  than  to 
fnap  her  chains. 

Indignantly  have  I  heard  women  argue  in  the 
fame  track  as  men,  and  adopt  the  fentiments  that 
brutalize  them,  with  all  the  pertinacity  of  ignor- 

\  T  muflilltiftrhte  my  allertion  by  a  few  exam- 
ples. Mrs.  Piozzi,  who  often  repeated  by  rote, 
wh?it  fhe  did  hot  underfcand,  comes  forward  with 
Johnfcnian  periods.' 

*  Seek  not  for  happinefs  in  ilngularity  •  and 
'  dread  a  refinement  of  wifdom  as  a  deviation  into 
*'fblly.'  Thus  fhe  dogmatically  addrefTes  a  new 
married  man  ;  and  to  elucidate  this  pompous  ex- 
ordium, fhe  adds,  *  I  faid  that  the  perfon  of  your 

*  lady  would  not  grow  more  plcafing  to  you,  but 

*  pray  let  her  never  fufped:  that  it  grows  lefs  fo  : 

*  that  a  woman  will  pardon  an  affront  to  her  un- 

*  derflanding   much  fooner  than  one  to  her  per- 

*  fon,    is  well  known  •  nor  will  any  of  us  con- 

*  tradid:    the  afTertion.     All  our  attainments,  all 

*  our  arts,   are  employed  to  gain  and   keep  the 

*  heart  of  man  ;    and  what  mortification  can  ex-" 

*  ceed  the  difippointment,  if  the  end  be  not  ob- 

*  tained  ?  There  is  no  reproof  however  pointed, 

*  no  punifhment  however   fevere,  that  a  woman 

*  of  fpirit  will  not  prefer  to  negle(5t  ;   and  if  flie 

*  can  endure  it  without  complaint,  it  only  proves 
'  that  file  means  to  make  herfelf  amends  by  the  at- 

*  tention  of  others  for  the  flights  of  her  hufband  !' 

Thefe  are   truly  mafculine  fentiments. — *  All 

*  our   arts  are  employed   to  gain  and  keep  the 

*  heart  of  maa  :' — and  v/hat  is  the  inference  ? — 

if 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  i8i 

if  her  perfon,  ar^  was  there  ever  a  perfon,  though 
formed  with  Medicifan  fymmetry,  that  was  not 
flighted  ?  be  negle6i:ed,  fhe  will  make  herfelf 
amends  by  endeavouring  to  pleafe  other  men. 
Noble  morality  !  But  thus  is  the  underflanding 
of  the  whole  fex  affronted,  and  their  virtue  de- 
prived of  the  common  bafis  of  virtue.  A  woman 
muft  know,  that  her  perfon  cannot  be  as  pleafing 
to  her  hulband  as  it  was  to  her  lover,  and  if  fhe 
be  offended  with  him  for  being  a  human  crea- 
ture, fhe  may  as  well  whine  about  the  lofs  of  his 
heart  as  about  any  other  foolifh  thing. — And  this 
very  want  of  difcernment  or  unreafonable  anger, 
proves  that  he  could  not  change  his  fondnefs  for 
her  perfon  into  aftedtion  for  her  virtues  or  refped: 
for  her  underflanding. 

Whilft  women  avow,  and  ad:  up  to  fuch  opin- 
ions, their  underflandings,  at  leaft,  deferve  the 
contempt  and  obloquy  that  men,  who  never  in- 
fult  their  perfons,  have  pointedly  levelled  at  the 
female  mind.  And  it  is  the  fentiments  of  thefe 
polite  men,  who  do  not  wifli  to  be  encumbered 
with  mind,  that  vain  women  thoughtlefsly  adopt. 
Yet  they  fhould  know,  that  infulted  reafon  alone 
can  fpread  that  facred  referve  about  the  perfon, 
which  renders  human  affe<ftions,  for  human  af- 
feftions  have  always  fome  bafe  alloy,  as  permanent 
as  is  confiflent  with  the  grand  end  of  exiftence — 
the  attainment  of  virtue, 

TheBaronefs  de  Stael  fpeaks  the  fame  language 

as  the  lady  jufl  cited,  with  moreenthuliafm.  Her 

eulogium  on  RouiTcau  was  accidentally  put  into 

my   hands,    and   her  fentiments,  the  fentiments 

-  of  too  manv  of  my  fex,  may  ferve  as  the  text  for 

.    .     ■      M3 


1 82         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

a  few  comments,     *  Though  Rouffeau,'   (he  ob- 
ferves,  *  has  endeavoured  to  prevent  women  from 

*  interfering  in  public  affairs,  and  acting  a  bril- 

*  liant  part  in  the  theatre  of  politics  ;  yet  in  fpeak- 

*  ing  of  them,  how  much  has  he  done  it  to  their 

*  latisfaftion  !   Ifhewifhedto  deprive   them  of 

*  fome  rights  foreign  to  their  fex,  how  has  he 
'  for  ever  reftored  to  them  all  thole  to  which  it 

*  has  a  claim  ?  And  in  attempting    to  diminifh 

*  their  influence  over  the  deliberations  of  men, 

*  how  facredly  has  he  eftabliflied  the  empire  they 

*  have  over  their  happinefs  !   In  aiding  them  to 

*  defcend  from  an  ufurped  throne,  he  has  firmly 

*  feated  them  upon  that  to  which  they  were  dcf- 
^  tined  by  nature ;  and  though  he  be   full  of  in- 

*  dignation  againfh   them  when  they   endeavour 

*  to  refemble  men,  yet  when  they  come  before 
^  him  with  all  the  charms^ ^  iveaknejfesy  virtues  and 
<  errors y  of  their  fex,  his  refped:  for  their  perfons 
'  amounts  almoft  to  adoration.'  True  ! — For 
never  was  there  a  fenfualift  who  paid  more  fer- 
vent adoration  at  the  fhrine  of  beauty.  So  de- 
vout, indeed,  was  his  refped:  for  the  perfon,  that 
excepting  the  virtue  of  chaftity,  for  obvious  rea- 
fons,  he  only  wifiied  to  fee  it  embellifhed  by 
channs,  weaknefTes,  and  errors.  He  was  afraid 
left  the  aufterity  of  reafon  fliould  difturb  the  foft 
playfulnefs  of  love.  The  mafter  wifhed  to  have 
a  meretricious  fiave  to  fondle,  entirely  dependent 
on  his  reafon  and  bounty  ;  he  did  not  wanta  com- 
panion, whom  he  fliould  be  compelled  to  efteem, 
or  a  friend  to  v/hom  he  could  confide  the  care  of 
his  children's  education,  fhould  de^th  deprive 
them  of  their  father,  before  he  had  fulfilled  the 

(acred 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  183 

facred  taik.  He  denies  woman  reaibn,  {huts  her 
out  from  knowledge,  and  turns  her  afide  from 
truth  ;  yet  his  pardon  is  granted,  becaufe  *  he 
admits  the  pafllon  of  love.'  It  would  require 
fome  ingenuity  to  fhew  why  women  were  to  be 
under  fuch  an  obligation  to  him  for  thus  admit- 
ting love  ;  when  it  is  clear  that  he  admits  it  only 
for  the  relaxation  of  men,  and  to  perpetuate  the 
fpecies  j  but  he  talked  with  pafTion,  and  that 
powerful  fpell  worked  on  the  fenfibility  of  a 
young  encomiafl.  *  What  fignifies  it,*  purfues 
this  rhapfodift,  *  to  women,  that  his  reafon  dif- 
'  putes  with  them  the  empire,  when  his  heart  is 
*  devotedly  theirs.'  It  is  not  empire, — but  equal- 
ity, that  they  fhould  contend  for.  Yet,  if  they 
only  wifhed  to  lengthen  out  their  fway,  they 
fliouJd  not  entirely  truft  to  their  perfons,  for 
though  beauty  may  gain  a  heart,  it  cannot  keep 
it,  even  while  the  beauty  is  in  full  bloom,  unlefs 
the  mind  lend,  at  leafl,  fome  graces. 

V/hen  women  are  once  fufhciently  enlightened 
to  difcover  thejr  real  jnterefl:,  on  a  grand  fcale, 
they  will,  I  am  perfuaded,  be  very  ready  to  reiign 
all  the  prerogatives  of  love,  that  are  not  mutual, 
fpeaking  of  them  as  Jafling  prerogatives,  for  the 
calm  fatisfa^tion  of  friendfhip,  and  the  tender 
confidence  of  habitual  efteem.  Before  marriage 
they  will  not  affume  any  infolent  airs,  nor  after- 
wards abjedtly  fubmit ;  but  endeavouring  to  a(ft 
}ike  reafonable  creatures,  in  both  lituations,  they 
will  not  be  tumbled  from  a  throne  to  a  ftool. 

Madame  Genlis  has  written  feveral  entertaining 
books  for  children  j  and  her  Letters  on  Educa- 
tion afford  many  ufeful  hints,  that  fenlible  par, 
M  4  ents 


184         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

ents  will  eertainlj"  avail  themfclves  of ;  but  her 
views  arc  narrow,  and  her  prejudices  as  unrcalbn- 
able  as  ftrong. 

I  fhall  pafs  over  her  vehement  argument  in  fa- 
vour of  the  eternity  of  future  punilhments,  be-> 
Caufe  I  blufh  to  think  that  a  human  being  ihould 
ever  argue  vehemently  in  fuch  a  caufe,  and  only 
m^ke  a  few  remarks  on  her  abfurd  manner  of 
making  the  parental  authority  fupplant  reafon. 
For  every  where  does  fhe  inculcate  not  only  MmJ 
fubmifTioH  to  parents  ;  but  to  the  opinion  of  the 
world*. 

She  tells  a  ftory  of  a  young  man  engaged  by 
his  father's  exprefs  dcfirc  to  a  girl  of  fortune. 
Before  the  marriage  could  take  place,  fhe  is  de- 
prived of  her  fortune,  apd  thrown  friendlefs  on  the 
world.  The  father  pradifes  the  moft  infamous 
^rts  to  feparatchis  fon  from  her,  and  when  the  fon 
detefts  his  villariy,  and,  following  the  dicftates  of 
honoqr,  marries  the  girl,  nothing  but  mifery  en- 
ii\esj  becaufe  forfooth  he  married  iJDithout  his  fa- 
ther's confent.  On  what  ground  can  religion  or 
piorality  reft  when  juflice  is  thus  fet  at  defiance  ? 
In  the  fame  ftyle  ilie  reprefents  an  accomplifhed 
young  woman,  as  ready  to  marry  any  body  that 
her  ma7nma  pleafed  to  recommend  ;  and,  as  actu- 
ally marrying  the  young  man  of  her  own  choice, 
\yithout  feeling  any  emotions  of  pafjions,  becaufe 

that 

♦  A  p?rfon  is  not  to  a^  In  this  or  that  way,  though  convinced  ;hcy  are 
right  in  ("0  doing,  btcaufe  foine tquivoc.l  circvmfhuicfs  niay  le^d  the  ^vorld 
toy«//^fir7-that  ih.'y  afled  trcm  difFeier:t  motives. — This  is  fiiciificinf]:  ihe 
fubltance  for  a  fliado.v.  Lftpeoplebut  watch  1  heir  own  he^ris,  and  ait 
rightly,  a$  far  as  they  cap  judge,  and  tliey  may  p;;tiem!y  wait  till  the  cpin- 
1oti  of  the  world  comes  round.  It  is  beil  to  be  <>irefted  by  a  fin^pre  mo- 
tive—for jurticc  has^co  citen  bsen  (acrifi.ced  to  jiropricty  j— another  v.'c:d 
ior  convtniiinc?, 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  185 

that  a  well  educated  girl  had  not  time  to  he  in 
love.  Is  it  poflible  to  have  much  rcfpedt  for  a 
fyftem  of  education  that  thus  infults  reafon  and 
nature  ? 

Many  fimilar  opinions  cccur  in  her  writings, 
mixed  with  fentiments  that  do  honour  to  her 
head  and  heart.  Yet  fo  much  fuperiUtion  i$ 
mixed  with  her  religion,  and  fo  much  worldly 
wifdom  with  her  morality,  that  I  fliould  not  let 
a  young  perfon  read  her  v/orks,  unlef;  I  could  af- 
terv/ards  converfe  on  the  fubjects,  and  point  out 
the  contradidtions. 

Mrs.  Chapone's  Letters  are  written  with  fuch 
good  lenfe,  and  unaffe6led  humility,  and  contain 
fo  many  ufeful  obfervations,  that  I  only  mention 
them  to  pay  the  worthy  writer  this  tribute  of  re- 
fpe(?c.  I  cannot,  it  is  true,  always  coincide  in 
opinion  with  her  3  but  I  always  refpedt  her. 

The  very  word  refpedl  brings  Mrs.  Macaulay 
to  my  remembrance.  The  woman  of  the  greats 
eft  abilities,  undoubtedly,  that  this  country  has 
ever  produced. — -And  yet  this  woman  has  been 
fuffered  to  die  without  fufficient  refpect  being 
paid  to  her  memory. 

Pofterity,  however,  will  be  more  j  uft ;  and  re- 
member that  Catharine  Macaulay  was  an  exam- 
ple of  intelle6tual  acquirements  fuppofed  to  be 
incompatible  with  the  wcaknefs  of  her  fex.  In 
her  ftyle  of  writing,  indeed,  no  fex  appears,  for 
it   is  like   the  fenfe  it  conveys,  ftrong  and  clear. 

I  will  not  call  her'^i  a  mafcuUn-.^  underftanding, 
becaufe  I  admit  not  of  fjch  an  arrogant  alTump- 
tion  of  reafon  ;  but  I  contend  that  it  was  a  found 
f)f)e,  and  that  her  judgment,  the- matured  fruit  of 

'"prqfc'Und 


lU         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

profound  thinking,  was  a  proof  that  a  woman 
can  acquire  judgment,  in  the  full  extent  of  the 
word.  Pofleffing  more  penetration  than  fagacity, 
more  underflanding  than  fancy,  fhe  writes  with 
ibber  energy  and  argumentative  clofenefs  ;  yet 
Sympathy  and  benevolence  give  an  in te reft  to  her 
fentiments,  and  that  vital  heat  to  arguments, 
which  forces  the  reader  to  weigh  them*. 

When  I  firft  thought  of  writing  thefe  flrid:ures 
I  anticipated  Mrs.  Macaulay's  approbation,  with 
a  little  of  that  fanguine  ardour,  which  it  has  been 
the  bufinefs  of  my  life  to  deprefs ;  but  foon  heard 
with  the  fickly  qualm  of  difappointed  hopej  and 
the  ftiil  ferioufnefs  of  regret — that  flie  was  no 
more  I 

SECT.       V. 

Taking  a  view  of  the  different  works  which 
have  been  written  on  education.  Lord  Chefter^ 
field's  Letters  muft  not  be  filently  palled  over. 
Not  that  I  mean  to  analyze  his  unmanly,  im- 
moral fyftem,  or  even  to  cull  any  of  the  ufeful, 
ihrewd  remarks  which  occur  in  his  frivolous 
correfpondence — No,  I  only  mean  to  make  a  few 
refledions  on  the  avowed  tendency  of  them — the 
art  of  acquiring  an  early  knowledge  of  the  world. 
An  art,  I  will  venture  to  affert,  that  preys  fecret- 
ly,  like  the  worm  in  the  bud,  on  the  expanding 
powers,  and  turns  to  poifon  the  generous  juices 
which  ihould  mount  v/ith  vigour  in  the  youths 

ful 


♦  Coinciding  in  opinion  wid)  Mrs.  M.icaulr.y  relative  to  many  branch?*., 
of  fdticntion,  I  lefet  to  hti  valuable  wojk,  iiiflead  of  quoting  h«i-  reniJoii;nHi 
to  fup^wit  m)^9wi!. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  187 

ful  frame,  infpiring  warm  afFedions  and  great  re- 
folves*. 

For  every  thing,  faith  the  wife  man,  there  is  a 
feafon  ; — and  who  would  look  for  the  fruits  of 
autumn  during  the  genial  months  of  fpring  ?  But 
this  is  mere  declamation,  and  I  mean  to  reafon 
with  thofe  worldly-wife  inftrudtors,  v/ho,  in- 
ftead  of  cultivating  the  judgment  inftil  prejudi- 
ces, and  render  hard  the  heart  that  gradual  expe- 
rience would  only  have  cooled.  An  early  acquaint- 
ance with  human  infirrruties ;  or,  what  is  termed 
knowledge  of  the  world,  is  the  furefl  way,  in  my 
opinion,  to  contract  the  heart  and  damp  the  natu- 
ral youthful  ardour  which  produces  not  only  great 
talents,  but  great  virtues.  For  the  vain  attempt 
to  bring  forth  the  fruit  of  experience,  before  the 
fapling  has  thrown  out  its  leaves,  only  exhaufts 
its  flrength,  and  prevents  its  affuming  a  natural 
form,  iuft  as  the  form  and  ftren^th  of  iabfidins 
metals  are  injured  when  the  attraction  of  cohefioa 
is  dillurbed. 

Tell  me,  ye  who  have  fludied  the  human  mind, 
is  it.  not  a  ftrangc  way  to  fix  principles  by  (liov/- 
ing  young  people  that  they  are  feldom  flable  ? 
And  how  can  they  be  fortified  by  habits  when 
they  are  proved  to  be  fallacious  by  example  ? 
Why  is  the  ardour  of  youth  thus  to  be  damped, 
and  the  luxuriancy  of  fmcy  cut  to  the  quick  ? 
This  dry  caution  may,  it  is  true,  guard  a  charac- 
ter 

•  Thit  chllJren  ouf;ht  to  ^e  confianily  guanletl  agaipft  the  vice?  anJ 
follies  of  tliu  Nvoiltl,  a}>|;e3rs,  to  mc,  a  very  iniiiaken  opinion  ;  for  in  the 
courfe  <)(  my  ejcpenencc,  and  my  eyrs  liave  locked  abroad,  I  never  knew 
3  youth  educated  in  ihi<  n.anner,  who  had  enly  imbibed  iliefe  chillm-; 
fiifpicipns,  and  repealed  by  rut*;  ilie  liijrr.iuii^  ij  vi  4£«j  that  d.d  r.o:  ^i\i\t 
a  iclfi(»i  chara'iler. 


i88         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

ter  from  worldly  mifchanccs  ;  but  will  intallibly 
preclude  excellence  in  either  \irtue  or  know- 
ledge*. The  flumbling-block  thrown  acroi's 
every  path  by  fufpicion,  will  prevent  any  vigorous 
exertions  of  genius  or  benevolence,  and  lite  will 
be  ftripped  of  its  moil  alluring  charm  long  be- 
fore its  calm  evening,  when  man  fhould  retire  to 
■  contemplation  for  comfort  and  fupport. 

A  young  man  who  has  been  bred  up  with  do- 
mellic  friends,  and  led  to  Aore  his  mind  with  as 
much  fpeculative  knowledge  as  can  be  acquired 
by  reading  and  the  natural  retle6lions  which 
youthful  ebullitions  of  animal  fpirits  and  inilin(!:t- 
ive  feelings  infpire,  will  enter  the  world  with 
warm  and  erroneous  expectations.  But  this  ap- 
pears to  be  the  courfe  of  nature  ;  and  in  morals, 
as  well  as  in  works  of  talle,  we  fliould  be  ob- 
fervant  of  her  facred  indications,  and  not  prefume 
to  lead  when  we  ought  obfequioully  to  follow. 

In  the  world  few  people  mO:  from  principle  y 
prefent  feelings,  and  early  habits,  are  the  grand 
iprings  :  but  how  would  the  former  be  deaden- 
ed, and  the  latter  rendered  iron  corroding  fetters, 
if  the  world  were  fhewn  to  young  people  jull:  as 
it  is ;  when  no  knowledge  of  mankind  or  their 
own  hearts,  llowly  obtained  by  experience,  ren- 
dered them  forbearing  ?  Their  fellow  creatures 
would  not  then  be  viewed  as  frail  beings  ;  like- 
themfelves  condemned  to  ftruggle  with  human 
irifirmities,  and  fometimes  difplaying  the  light, 
and  fometimes   the   dark  fide  of  their  charader  ; 

extorting 

*  I  h?.ve  already  oliferrerf  t'lat  an  early  knowledge  of  tbe  vrorhl,  obram- 
cd  in  a  natural  way,  by  ii);xirg  in  the  sY«r.ii>  has  the  laiiie ettcil  :  inibr»- 
cins  o.'F-;ei'5  and  wuincn. 


RIGHTS  01^  WOMAN.  i^(^ 

extorting  alternate  feelings  ot  love  and  ililguft  ; 
Init  guarded  againrt  as  beafts  of  pre}%  till  every 
enlarged  ibcial  feeling,  in  a  word, — humanity, 
was  eradicated.  '* 

In  life,    on  the  contrar}-,  as  we  gradually  dif- 
co\'erthc  imperfcCl:ions  of  cur  nature,  we  difcovcr 
\nrtues,  and  various    circumiiances  attach  us  to 
our  fellow  creatures,  when  wc  mix  with  them, 
and  view  the  fame  objects,  that  are  never  thouijhc 
of  in    acquiring  a  h^Uly  unnatural  knowledge  or 
the  ^vorld.     We  fee  a  felly  f\"\*cll  into  a  vice,  by' 
almcrt  imperceptible  degrees,  and  pity  while  we 
blame  ;  but,    if  the  hideous  monfter  bunt  fud- 
denly  on  our  fight,  fear  and  difgutt  rendering  us 
more  fevcre  tlwn  man  ought  to  he,  miglit  lead  u§^ 
with  blind  zeal  to  nfarp  the  charaviier  of  omnipo-;'- 
tence,  and  denounce  damnation  on  our  fellow  mor-^ 
tals,  forgetting   that  we   cannot  read  the  heart;^ 
and  that  wc  have  f^^cd's  of  the  fame  vices  lurkin5? 
in  oar  own. 

I  have  already  remarked  that  we  expeift  mor^ 
from  inlbruition,  than  mere  inll:ni»fl:ion  can  pro- 
ducs  :  for,  inllead  of  preparing  young  people  to 
encounter  the  evils  of  life  with  dignitv,  and  to 
atquire  \vifdom  and  virtue  by  the  exercifc  of  their 
own  facTdties,  precepts  are  heaped  upon  precepts, 
jnd  blind  obedience  required,  when  conviction 
lliould  be  brought  home  to  reafoii. 

Snppofe,  for  rn11:ance,  that  a  young  pcrfon  in 
the  ftrft  ardour  of  ti-iendlhip  deities  the  beloved 
objeit — what  harm  can  arife  from  this  miltakcn 
cnthufiailic  attachment  ?  Perhaps  it  is  necelHiry 
for  virtue  firit  to  appear  in  a  human  form  to  im- 
prcfs  youthful  hearts;  the  ideal  model,  which  a 


190        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

more  matured  and  exalted  mind  looks  up  to,  and 
iKapes  for  itfelf,  would  elude  their  fight.  He 
who  loves  not  his  brotlicr  whom  he  hath  feen, 
how  can  he  love  God  ?  aflced  the  v/ifeft  of  men. 

It  is  natural  for  youth  to  adorn  the  firft  obje6t 
of  its  afFedUon  with  every  good  quality,  and  the 
emulation  produced  by  ignorance,  or,  to  fpeak 
with  more  propriety,  by  inexperience,  brings  for- 
ward the  mind  capable  of  forming  fuch  an  af- 
fedtion,  and  when,  in  the  lapfe  of  time,  perfec- 
tion is  found  not  to  be  within  the  reach  of  mor- 
tals, virtue,  abilradtedly,  is  thought  beautiful,  and 
wifdom  fublime.  Admiration  then  gives  place 
to  frienddiip,  properly  fo  called,  becaufe  it  is  ce- 
mented by  efleem  ;  and  the  being  walks  alone 
only  dependent  on  heaven  for  that  emulous  pant- 
ing after  perfection  which  ever  glows  in  a  noble 
mind.  But  this  knowledge  a  man  muH  gain  by 
the  exertion  of  his  own  faculties  ;  and  this  is 
furely  the  bleffed  fruit  of  difappointed  hope  !  for 
He  who  delighteth  to  diftufe  liuppinefs  and  fhew 
mercy  to  the  weak  creatures,  who  are  learning  to 
know  him,  never  implanted  a  good  propenfity  to 
be  a  tormenting  ignis  fatuus. 

Our  trees  are  now  allowed  to  fpread  with  wild 
luxuriance,  nor  do  we  expedl  by  force  to  combine 
the  majeftic  marks  of  time  with  ufeful  graces  ; 
but  wait  patiently  till  they  have  ftruck  deep  their 
root,  and  braved  many  a  ftorm. — Is  the  mind 
then,  which,  in  proportion  to  its  dignity,  ad- 
vances more  flowly  towards  perfection,  to  be 
treated  with  lefs  retpeCt  ?  To  argue  from  analo- 
gy, every  thing  around  us  is  in  a  progreflive  ftate; 
and  when  an  unwelcome  knowledge  of  life  pro- 
duces 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  191 

iiuces  almofl  a  fatiety  of  life,  and  we  difcover  by 
the  natural  courfe  of  things  that  all  that  is  done 
under  the  fun  is  vanity,  we  are  drawing  near  the 
awful  clofe  of  the  drama*  The  days  of  ad:ivity 
?ind  hope  are  over,  and  the  opportunities  which 
the  fir(l  ftage  of  exiftence  has  afforded  of  advanc- 
ing in  thefcale  of  intelligence,  mull  foon  bcfum- 
med  up. — A  knowledge  at  tins  period  of  the  lu- 
tility  of  life,  op  earlier,  if  obtained  by  experience, 
is  very  ufeful,  becaufe  it  is  natural  ;  but  when  a 
frail  being  is  ihewn  the  follies  and  vices  of  man, 
that  he  may  be  taught  prudently  to  guard  againfi 
the  common  cafualties  of  life  by  facrificing  his 
heart — furely  it  is  not  fpeaking  harilily  to  call  it 
the  wifdom  of  this  world,  contrafled  w^t^^  jt;|>e 
nobler  fruit  of  piety  and  experience.         -.j  ,  pr.*'  •• 

I  will  venture  a  paradox,  and  deliver  my  opin- 
ion without  referve  -,  if  men  were  only  born  to 
form  a  circle  of  life  and  death,  it  would  be  wife 
to  take  every  ftep  that  forefight  could  fuggeft  to 
render  life  happy.  Moderation  in  every  purfuit 
would  then  be  fupreme  wifdom  ;  and  the  pru- 
dent voluptuary  might  enjoy  a  degree  of  content, 
though  he  neither  cultivated  his  underftanding 
nor  kept  his  heart  pure.  Prudence,  fuppofing 
we  were  mortal,  would  be  true  v/ifdom,  or,  to 
be  more  explicit,  would  procure  the  greateft  por- 
tion of  happinefs,  confidering  the  whole  of  life, 
but  knowledge  beyond  the  conveniences  of  life 
would  be  a  curfe. 

Why  (hould  we  injure  our  health  by  cloie 
iludy  ?  The  exalted  pleafurc  which  intelleclual 
purfuits  afford  would  fcarccly  be  equivalent  to 
the  hours   of  languor  that  follow  -,  efpecially,  if 

'  it 


i^±        \-iNDICATION  OF  THE 

k  be  rreceflary  to  take  into  tlic  reckoning  thd 
floubrs'  nnd  difiippcintments  that  cloud  bur  re-- 
fcarcR(i5.  Vanity  and  vexation  clofe  every  in-» 
quiry  :  for  the  c^mxc  which  we  particularly  wiOl- 
cd  tcy  difcover  flies  like  the  horizen  before  us  asi 
we  'advance.  The  ignorant,  on  the  contrary, 
refemble  children,  and  fuppoie,  that  if  they  ct)uld 
walk  straight  forward  they  fliould  at  lall:  arrive 
where  the  earth  and  clouds  meet.  Yot^  diiap- 
pointed  2^  yve  are  in  our  relearche^,  the  mine! 
gains  ftrc^gtll  by  the  exercife,  futficient,  per-* 
haps,  to  comprehend  the  anfvvers  which,  in  an- 
other ftep  of  exiftencfe,  it  may  receJvS  -to  the  aM-- 
ious  ^qCieilibn's  it  afked,  when  the  underftaridinr^; 
wi-th  feeble  wing  V/as  fluttering  round  the  Vifibfc 
effeds  to  dive  into  the  hidden  caufe. 

'  The "pafiionsalfb,  the  winds  of  life,  would-be 
"ufciefs,  if  not  injariou's,  did  the  iiibftance  w^hich 
c'ompofe?  our  thinking  being,  after  •\^'e  have 
thought  in  viain,  oi^ly  become  the  fiippoft' of  vege- 
table  life,  and  invigorate  a  cabbage,  or  blufh  i-n-a 
roie.  The  appetites  would  anfwer  every  earthly 
purpofe,  and  produce  more  moderate  and  perma- 
nent happinefs.  But  the  powers  of  the  foul  that 
are  of  little  ttfe  here,  and,'  probably,  dii^turb  our 
animal  enjoyments,  even  while  eonfcious-  dignity 
makes  us  glory  in  pollbfTmg  them,  prove  that 
life  i-s  merely  an  education,  a  fliate  of  infancy,  to 
which  the  only  hopes  v^^rth  cherifliing  fhould 
not  be.  facrificed.  I  mean,  therefore,  to  infer, 
that  we  ought  to  have  a  precife  idea  of  what  we 
"wifh  to  attain  by  education,  for  t-he  immortality 
oi  the  foul  is  contradicfted  by  the  atflions  of  many 
people  who  hrmly  profefs  the  belief. 

If 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  193 

It  you  mean  to  lecure  cafe  and  profperlty  on 
earth  as  the  firft  confideration.  and  leave  futurity 
to  provide  for  itfelf ;  you  ad:  prudently  in  giving 
your  child  an  early  infight  into  the  weaknefl'es  of 
his  nature.  You  may  not,  it  is  true,  make  an. 
Inkle  of  him  ;  but  do  not  imagine  that  he  will 
ftick  to  more  than  the  letter  of  the  law,  who  has 
very  early  imbibed  a  mean  opinion  of  human  na- 
ture ;  nor  will  he  think  it  neceffary  to  rife  much 
above  the  common  ftandard.  He  may  avoid 
grofs  vices,  becaufe  honefty  is  the  beft  policy  ; 
but  he  v\^ill  never  aim  at  attaining  great  virtues. 
The  example  of  writers  and  artifls  will  illuftrate 
this  remark. 

I  muft  therefore  venture  to  doubt  whether 
what  has  been  thought  an  axiom  in  morals  may  not 
have  been  a  dogmatical  afTertion  made  by  men  who 
have  coolly  feen  mankind  through  the  medium 
of  books,  and  fay,  in  direO:  contradidion  to  them, 
that  the  regulation  of  the  paflions  is  not,  always, 
wifdom.  On  the  contrary,  it  fhould  feem,  that  one 
reafon  why  men  have  fuperiour  judgment-,  and 
more  fortitude  than  women,  is  undoubtedly  this, 
that  they  give  a  freer  fcope  to  the  grand  paflions, 
and  by  more  frequently  going  aftray  enlarge  their 
minds.  If  then  by  the  exercife  of  their  own* 
reafon  they  fix  on  fome  ftable  principle,  they  have 
probably  to  thank  the  force  of  their  paffions, 
nourifhed  by  fa/Jl'  views  of  life,  and  permitted  to 
overleap  the  boundary  that  fecures  content.  But 
if,  in  the  dawn  of  life,  we  could  foberly  furvey 
the  fcenes  before  as  in  perfpedlive,  and  fee  every 
N  thing 

•  *  I  find  that  a!l  is  but  Hp-v.ifJom  which  wants  experience,'  fays  Sid- 
ney. 


194         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

thing  in  its  true  colours,  how  could  the   paHvons 
gain  lufficient  ftrength  to  unfold  the  faculties  ? 

Let  me  now  as  from  an  eminence  furvey  the 
world  ftripped  of  all  its  falfe  delulive  charms.  The 
clear  atmofphere  enables  me  to  fee  each  objeifl  in 
its  true  point  of  view,  while  my  heart  is  ftill.  I 
am  calm  as  the  profpe^  in  a  morning  when  the 
mifts,  {lowly  difperfing,filently  unveil  the  beauties 
of  nature,  refrefhed  by  reft. 

In  what  light  will  the  world  now  appear  ? — I 
rub  my  eyes  and  think,  perchance,  that  I  am  jufl 
awaking  from  a  lively  dream. 

I  iee  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men  purfuing 
fhadov/s,  and  anxiouily  wafting  their  powers  to 
feed  paflions  which  have  no  adequate  object — if 
the  very  excefs  of  thefe  blind  impulfes^  pampered 
by  that  lying,  yet  conftantly  trufted  guide,  the 
imagination,  did  not,  by  preparing  them  for  feme 
other  ftate,  render  fhort-lighted  mortals  wjfer 
without  their  own  concurrence  ;  or,. what  comes 
to  the  fame  thing,  when  they  were  purfuing  fome 
imaginary  prefent  good. 

After  viewing  objects  in  this  light,  it  would- 
not  be  very  fanciful  to  imagine  that  this  v/orld 
v/as  a  ftage  on  which  a  pantomime  is  daily  per- 
formed for  the  amufement  of  fuperiour  beings. 
How  would  they  be  diverted  to  fee  the  ambitious 
man  confuming  him^feU  by  running  after  a  phan- 
tom, and,  *  purfuing  the  bubble  tame  in  the  can- 
*  non's  mouth'  that  v/as  to  blow  him. to  nothing: 
for  when  confcioufnefs  is  loft,  it  matters  not 
whether  \vc  mount  in  a  whirlwind  or  dcfcend  in 
rain.  And  Ihould  they  compaftionately  invigo- 
rate  his  fight    and    fliev/   him  the  thorny  path 

wh'icR. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  k;^ 

which  led  to  eminence,  that  like  a  qulckfand 
finks  as  he  afcends,  dilappointing  his  hopes  when 
almoft  within  his  grafp,  would  he  not  leave  to 
others  the  honour  of  amufing  them,  and  labour 
to  fecure  the  prefent  moment,  though  from  the 
conflitution  of  his  nature  he  would  not  find  it 
very  eafy  to  catch  the  flying  flream  ?  Such  flaves 
are  we  to  hope  and  fear  ! 

But,  vain  as  the  ambitious  man's  purfaits 
would  be,  he  is  often  ftrivingfor  fomething  more 
fubftantial  than  fame—that  indeed  would  be  the 
veriefl  meteor,  the  wildefl  iire  that  could  lure  a 
man  to  ruin.— What  !  renounce  the  mofl  trifling, 
gratification  to  be  applauded  when  he  fhould  be 
no  more!  Wherefore  this  flruggle,  whether  man 
IS  mortal  or   immortal,  if  that  noble  paliion  did 

not  really  raife  the  being  above  his  fellows  ? 

And  love  !  What  diverting  fcenes  would  it 
produce— Pantaloon's  tricks  mufl  yield  to  more 
egregious  folly.  To  fee  a  mortal  adorn  an  ob- 
jed  with  imaginary  charms,  and  then  fall  dowa 
and  wofHiip  the  idol  v/hich  he  had  himfelf  fet 
up— how  ridiculous  !  But  what  fcrious  confe- 
quences  enfue  to  rob  man  of  that  portion  of  hap- 
pinefs,  which  the  Deity  by  calling  him  into  ex- 
iftence  has  (or,  on  what  can  his  attributes  reft  ?) 
indubitably  promifed  :  would  not  all  the  purpo- 
les  of  life  have  been  much  better  fulfilled  if  he 
had  only  felt  what  has  been  termed  phyfical  love  ? 
And,  would  not  the  fight  of  the  objed,  not  feeri 
through  the  medium  of  the  imagination,  foon  re- 
duce the  pafiion  to  an  appetite,  if  refiedtion,  the 
noble  diftma:ion  of  man,  did  not  give  it  force, 
and  make  it  an  inftrument  to  raife  him  above  this 
ISi  2  earthy 


^96         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

earthy  drofs,  by  teaching  him  to  love  the  centre 
of  all  perfediion  ;  whofe  wifdom  appears  clearer 
and  clearer  in  the  works  of  nature,  in  proportion 
as  reafon  is  illuminated  and  exalted  by  contem- 
plation, and  by  acquiring  that  love  of  order  which 
the  flruggles  of  paiTion  produce  ? 

The  habit  of  reflection,  and  the  knowledge  at- 
tained by  foftering  any  paflion,  might  be  (hewn 
to  be  equally  ufeful,  though  the  objedl  be  proved 
equally  fallacious ;  for  they  would  all  appear  in 
the  fame  light,  if  they  were  not  magnified  by  the 
governing  paflion  implanted  in  us  by  the  Author 
of  all  good,  to  call  forth  and  fl:rengthen  the  fac- 
ulties of  each  individual,  and  enable  it  to  attain 
all  the  experience  that  an  infant  can  obtain,  who 
does  certain  things,  it  cannot  tell  why. 

I  defcend  from  my  height,  and  mixing  with  my 
fellow-creatures,  feel  myfelf  hurried  along  the 
common  ilream  j  ambition,  love,  hope  and  fear, 
exert  their  wonted  power,  though  we  be  con- 
vinced by  reafon  that  their  prefent  and  mofi:  at- 
tractive promifes  are  only  lying  dreams  ;  but  had 
the  cold  hand  of  circumfpedtion  damped  each 
generous  feeling  before  it  had  left  any  permanent 
character,  or  fixed  fome  habit,  what  could  be  ex- 
pected, but  felfifh  prudence  and  reafon  jufl:  riflng 
above  infl:ind:  ?  Who  that  has  read  Dean  Swift's 
difgufting  defcription  of  the  Yahoos,  and  infipid 
one  of  Houyhnhnm  with  a  philofophical  eye,  can 
avoid  feeing  the  futility  of  degrading  the  paflions, 
or  making  man  reft  in  contentment  ? 

The  youth  fhould  a6l  ;  for  had  he  the  experi- 
ence of  a  grey  head  he  would  be  fitter  for  death 
than  life,,   though  his  virtues,    rather  reflding  in 

his 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  197 

his  head  than  his  heart,  could  produce  nothing 
great,  and  his  underftanding,  prepared  for  this 
world,  would  not,  by  its  noble  flights,  prove  that 
it  had  a  title  to  a  better. 

Befides,  it  is  not  poffiblc  to  give  a  young  per- 
fon  a  jufl  view  of  life  ;  he  muft  have  ftruggled 
with  his  own  paffions  before  he  can  eftimate  the 
force  of  the  temptation  which  betrayed  his  bro- 
ther into  vice.  Thofe  who  are  entering  life,  and 
thofe  who  are  departing,  fee  the  world  from  fuch 
very  different  points  of  view,  that  they  can  fel- 
dom  think  alike,  unlefs  the  unfledged  reafon  of 
the  former  never  attempted  a  folitary  flight. 

When  we  hear  of  fome  daring  crime,  it  comes  full 
on  us  in  the  deepcft  fliade  of  turpitude,  and  raifes 
indignation  ;  but  the  eye  that  gradually  faw  the 
darknefs  thicken,  muft  obferve  it  with  more  com- 
paffionate  forbearance.  The  world  cannot  be 
ihcn  by  an  unmoved  fpedator,  we  muft  mix  in 
the  throng,  and  feej  as  men  feel  before  we  can 
judge  of  their  feelings,  if  we  mean,  in  fhort,  to 
live  in  the  world  to  grow  wifer  and  better,  and 
not  merely  to  enjoy  the  good  things  of  life,  we 
mull  attain  a  knowledge  of  others  at  the  fame 
time  that  we  become  acquainted  with  ourfelves — 
knov/ledge  acquired  any  other  way  only  hardens 
the  heart  and  perplexes  the  underftanding. 

I  may  be  told,  that  the  knowledge  thus  ac- 
quired, is  fometimes  purchafed  at  too  dear  a  rate. 
I  can  only  anfwer  that  I  very  much  doubt  whe- 
ther any  knowledge  can  be  attained  without  la- 
bour and  forrow  ;  and  thofe  who  wifli  to  fpare 
their  children  both,  (hould  not  complain,  if  they 
are  neither  wife  nor  virtuous.  They  only  aimed 
N  a  at. 


J 98         VINDICx^TION  OF  THE 

at  making  them  prudent ;  and  prudence,  early  m 
life,  is  but  the  cautious  craft  of  ignorant  fclf-love. 

I  have  obferved  that  young  people,  to  vvhofe 
education  particular  attention  has  been  paid,  have, 
in  general,  been  very  fuperficial  and  conceited, 
and  far  from  pleafing  in  any  refpeft,  becaufe  they 
had  neither  the  unfufpedling  warmth  of  youth, 
nor  the  cool  depth  of  age.  I  cannot  help  im- 
puting this  unnatural  appearance  principally  to 
that  hafty  premature  inftrud:ion,  which  leads 
them  prefumptuoully  to  repeat  all  the  crude  no- 
tions they  have  taken  upon  truft,  fo  that  the  care- 
ful education  which  they  received,  makes  them 
all  their  Jives  the  flaves  of  prejudices. 

Mental  as  well  as  bodily  exertion  is,  at  iirfl:, 
irJcfome  ;  fo  much  fo,  that  the  many  would  fain 
let  others  both  work  and  think  for  them.  An 
obTetvation  which  I  have  often  made  will  illuf- 
trate  my  micaning.  When  in  a  circle  of  Grang- 
ers, or  acquaintances,  a  perfon  of  moderate  abil- 
ities aflerts  an  opinion  v/ith  heat,  I  will  venture 
tb  affirm,  for  I  have  traced  this  facft  home,  very 
often,  that  it  is  a  prejudice.  Thefe  echoes  have 
a  high  refpeft  for  the  underftanding  of  fome  re- 
lation or  friend,  and  without  fully  comprehend- 
ing the  opinions,  which  they  are  fo  eager  to  re- 
tail, they  maintain  them  with  a  degree  of  obfti- 
nacy,  that  would  furprife  even  the  perfon  who 
concotfted  them. 

I  know  that  a  kind  of  fafliion  now  prevails  of 
refpedting  prejudices;  and  when  any  one  dares  to 
face  them,  though  a(!^uated  by  humanity  and  arm- 
ed by  reafon,  he  is  fuperciliouily  afked  whether 
his  anceflors  were  fools.     No,    I  fliould  reply  ; 

opinions. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  199 

opinions,  at  firft,  of  every  defcription,  wefe  all,  pro- 
bably, confidered,  and  tberefore  were  founded  on 
Tome  reafon  ;  yet  not  unfrequently,  of  courfe,  it 
A^as  ratber  a  local  expedient  tban  a  fundamental 
principle,  tbat  would  be  reafonabk  at  all  times. 
But,  mofs-covered  opinions  affume  tbe  difpro- 
portioned  form  of  prejudices,  when  tbey  are .  in- 
dolently adopted  only  becaufe  agebas  given  them 
a  venerable  afpeCt, 'tboiigh  the  reafon  on  which 
they  were  built  ceafes  to  be  a  reafon,  or  cannot 
be  traced.  Why  are  we  to  love  prejudices,  mere- 
ly becaufe  they  are  prejudices  "*  ?  A  prejudice  is 
a  fond  obftinate  perfualion  for  which  w^e  can  give 
no  reafon  ;  for  the  moment  a  reafon  can  be  given 
for  an  opinion,  it  ceafes  to  be  a  prejudice,  though 
it  may  be  an  error  in  judgment :  and  are  we  then 
advifed  to  cherifli  opinions  only  to  fet  reafon  at 
defiance  r  This  mode  of  arguing,  if  arguing  it 
may  be  called,  reminds  me  of  what  is  vulgarly 
termed  a  w^oman's  reafon.  For  v/omen  fome- 
times  declare  that  they  love,  or  believe,  certain 
things,  becaufe  they  love,  or  believe  them. 

It  is  impolTible  to  converfe  with  people  to  any 
purpofe,  who,  in  this  ftyle,  only  ufe  affirmatives 
and  negatives.  Before  you  can  bring  them  to  a 
point,  to  ftart  fairly  from,  you  muft  go  back  to 
the  fimple  principles  that  were  antecedent  to  the 
prejudices  broached  by  power ;  and  it  is  ten  to 
one  but  you  are  flopped  by  the  philofophical  af- 
fertion,  that  certain  principles  are  as  pra6tically 
falfe  as  they  are  abftractly  true-f*.  Nay,  it  may  be 
N  4  inferred,. 

«  VlJe  Mr.  Burke. 

+  '  Convince  a  man  againfl  his  will, 
'  ilc*5  of  the  fime  opinion  ftill.* 


2C0        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

inferred,  that  reafon  has  whifpered  fomc  doubts, 
for  it  generally  happens  that  people  aiTert  their 
opinions  with  the  greateft  heat  when  they  begin 
to  waver ;  ftriving  to  drive  out  their  own  doubts 
by  convmcing  their  opponent,  they  grow  angry 
when  thofe  gnawing  doubts  are  thrown  back  to 
prey  on  thcmfelves. 

The  fad  is,  that  men  expe(5t  from  education, 
what  education  cannot  give.  A  fagacious  parent 
or  tutor  may  flrengthen  the  body  and  fliarpen  the 
inftruments  by  which  the  child  is  to  gather  know- 
ledge j  but  the  honey  muft  be  the  reward  of  the 
individual's  own  induflry.  It  is  almoft  as  abfurd 
to  attempt  to  make  a  youth  wife  by  the  experi- 
ence of  another,  as  to  expert  the  body  to  grow 
ftrong  by  the  exercife  which  is  only  talked  of,  or 
feen*.  Many  of  thofe  children  whofe  conduct 
has  been  mofl  narrowly  watched,  become  the 
weakeft  men,  becaufe  their  inftrudtors  only  inftil 
certain  notions  into  their  minds,  that  have  no 
other  foundation  than  their  authority  ;  and  if  they 
are  loved  or  refpedted,  the  mind  is  cramped  in  its 
exertions  and  wavering  in  its  advances.  The 
bufinefs  of  education  in  this  cafe,  is  only  to  con- 
duct the  fhooting  tendrils  to  a  proper  pole ;  yet 
after  laying  precept  upon  precept,  without  allow- 
ing a  child  to  acquire  judgment  itfelf,  parents 
expeift  them  to  aft  in  the  lame  manner  by  this 
borrowed  fallacious  light,  as  if  they  had  illumi- 
nated it  themfelvcs  ;  and  be,  when  they  enter 
life,  what  their  parents  are  at  the  clofe.  They 
do  not  confider  that  the  tree,  and  even  the  hu- 
man 

f  '  One  fees  nothing  when  one  is  content  to  contemplate  only  ;    it  is 
«  PCCciTary  to  a6t  oneic.f'io  be  able  to  fee  how  othcis  a^.'        Rovffeau, 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  201. 

man  body  does  not  ftrengthen  its  fibres  till  it  has 
reached  its  full  growth. 

There  appears  to  be  fomething  analogous  in 
the  mind.  Tlie  fenfes  and  the  imagination  give 
a  form  to  the  charadler,  daring  childhood  and 
youth  ;  and  the  underftanding,  as  life  advances, 
gives  iirmnefs  to  the  firil  fair  purpofes  of  fenfi- 
bility — till  virtue,  ariling  rather  from  the  clear 
convidtion  of  realbn  than  the  impulfeof  the  heart, 
morality  is  made  to  reft  on  a  rock  againft  which 
the  ftorms  of  paiTion  vainly  beat. 

I  hope  I  fhail  not   be  mifunderftood   when  I 
fay,  that  religion  will   not  have  this  condenfing 
energy,  unlefs  it  be  founded  on  reafon.     If  it  be 
merely  the  refuge  of  weaknefs  or  wild  fanaticifm, 
and  not  a  governing  principle  of  conduct,  drawn 
from  felf-knowledge,  and  a  rational  opinion   re- 
{pcdiing  the  attributes  of  God,  what    can   it  be 
expedted  to  produce  ?   The  religion   which  con- 
iifts  in  warming  the  affections,  and   exalting  the 
imagination,  is   only  the  poetical  part,  and  may 
afford  the  individual  pleafure  without  rendering 
it  a  more  moral  being.     It  may  be  a   fubftitute 
for  worldly  purfuits  -,  yet  narrow,  inftead  of  en- 
larging the  heart  :  but  virtue  muft  be  loved  as 
in  itfelf  fublime  and  excellent,   and  not  for  the 
advantages  it  procures  or  the  evils  it   averts,    if 
any  great  degree  of  excellence  be  expedled.    Men 
will  not  become  moral  when  they  only  build  airy 
caftles  in  a  future  world  to  compenfate   for   the 
difappointments  which  they  meet  with  in  this  ; 
if  they  turn  their  thoughts  from    relative  duties 
to  rclic!;ious  reveries. 

Moll 


202         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

Mofl  profpedrs  in  life  are  marred  by  the  fimf- 
fling  worldly  wildom  of  men,  who,  forget- 
ting that  they  cannot  ferve  God  and  mammon, 
endeavour  to  blend  contradi;5lory  things. — If 
you  wifh  to  make  your  fon  rich,  purfue  one 
courfe — if  you  are  only  anxious  to  make  him 
virtuous,  you  muft  take  another  ;  but  do  not 
imagine  that  you  can  bound  from  one  road  to 
the  other  without  loling  your  way*.    '  •   ' 

*  See  an  excellent  cfl"ay  on  tills  fubjeil  by  Mrs,  Baibau'd,  in  Mifcella- 
wms  Pieces  in  Proje. 


c  n  A  p. 


l^IGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  203 


CHAP.      VI. 

THE  EFFECT  WHICH  AN  EARLY  ASSOCIA- 
TION OF  IDEAS  HAS  UPON  THE  CHARAC- 
TER. 

Educated  in  the  enervating  flyic  re- 
commended by  the  writers  on  whom  I  have  been 
animadverting;  and  not ,  having  a  cliance,  from 
their  fubordinate  Hate  in  fociety,  to  recover  their 
loft  ground,  is  it  furpriling  that  women  every 
where  appear  a  defedl  in  nature  ?  Is  it  furprifmg, 
when  we  confider  what  a  determinate  effefft  an 
early  aflociation  of  ideas  has  on  the  charailer, 
that  they  negledt  their  undcrflandings,  and  turn 
all  their  attention  to  their  pei-fons  ? 

The  great  advantages  which  naturally  refuk 
from  ftoring  the  mind  with  knowledge,  are  ob- 
vious from  the  following  confiderations.  The 
afTociation  of  our  ideas  is  either  habitual  or  in- 
flantaneous  ;  and  the  latter  mode  feems  rather 
to  depend  on  the  original  temperature  of  the 
mind  than  on  the  will.  When  the  ideas,  and 
matters  of  facft,  are  once  taken  in,  they  he  by  for 
ufe,  till  fome  fortuitous  circumftance  makes  the 
information  dart  into  the  mind  with  illuftratlve 
force,  that  has  been  received  at  very  different  pe- 
riods of  our  lives.  Like  the  li:'ihtnino;'s  flalh  are 
many  recollections  ;  one  idea  afiimilating  and  ex- 
plaining another,  with  afiionifliing  rapidity.  I  do 
not  now  allude  to  that  quick  perception  of  truth, 
which  is  fo  intuitive  that  it  baixles  refcarch,  and 

makes 


204        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

makes  us  at  a  lofs  to  determine  whether  it  Is  re- 
minifcence  or  ratiocination,  loft  fight  of  in  its  ce- 
lerity, that  opens  the  dark  cloud.  Over  thofe 
inftantaneous  aflbciations  we  have  little  power ; 
for  when  the  mind  is  once  enlarged  by  excurfive 
flights,  or  profound  refledion,  the  raw  materials 
will,  in  fome  degree,  arrange  themfelves.  The 
underftanding,  it  is  true,  may  keep  us  from  going 
out  of  drawing  when  we  group  our  thoughts,  or 
tranfcribe  from  the  imagination  the  warm  ike tch- 
es  of  fancy  ;  but  the  animal  fpirits,  the  individu- 
al character,  give  the  colouring.  Over  this  fub- 
tile  ele6lric  fluid*,  how  little  power  do  we  pof- 
fefs,  and  over  it  how  little  power  can  reafon  ob- 
tain !  Thefe  fine  intractable  fpirits  appear  to  be 
the  efTence  of  genius,  and  beaming  in  its  eagle 
eye,  produce  in  the  mofl  eminent  degree  the  hap- 
py energy  of  affociating  thoughts  that  furprife, 
delight,  and  inflrud:.  Thefe  are  the  glowing 
minds  that  concentrate  pidlures  for  their  fellow- 
creatures  ;  forcing  them  to  view  with  interefl  the 
objects  reflecfled  from  the  impaflioned  imagina^^ 
tion,  which  they  pafTed  over  in  nature. 

I  muft  be  allowed  to  explain  myfelf.  The 
generality  of  people  cannot  fee  or  feel  poetically, 
they  want  fancy,  and  therefore  fly  from  folitude 
in  learch  of  fenfible  objects  ;  but  when  an  author 
lends  them  his  eyes  they  can  fee  as  he  faw,  and  be 
amufed  by  images  they  could  not  fele<fV,  though 
lying  before  them.  Education 

*  I  hnve  fmetimer,  when  inclined  to  laiigh  at  materialifts,  afkrd  whe- 
ther, as  ihe  molt  powerful  eftVfls  in  nature,  are  apparently  produced  by 
fliiiJs,  the  magnetic,  &;c.  the  pafTions  might  noi  be  fine  volaiile  fluids  iliat 
emhraced  i-uinanity,  keeping  ttie  more  rcfrnflory  elementary  part<;  togeth- 
er— •or  whc'.her  th-^y  we-e  limply  a  liquid  fiie  that  psrvaded  the  mor.  flyg- 
giili  in.utiiils,  i^iviiig  diem  lUe  and  h;ai  ? 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  205 

Education  thus  only  fupplies  the  man  of  gen- 
ius with  knowledge  to  give  variety  and  contraft 
to  his  afTociations  -,  but  there  is  an  habitual  af- 
Ibciation  of  ideas,  that  grows  *  with  our  growth,' 
which  has  a  great  eftedt  on  the  moral  charader 
of  mankind  ;  and  by  which  a  turn  is  given  to 
the  mind  that  commonly  remains  throughout 
life.  So  dudile  is  the  underllanding,  and  yet  Co 
ftubborn,  that  the  alibciations  which  depend  on 
adventitious  circumftances,  during  the  period  that 
the  body  takes  to  arrive  at  maturity,  can  feldoni 
be  difen tangled  by  feafon.  One  idea  calls  up 
another,  its  old  alTociate,  and  memory,  faithful 
to  the  firil:  imprefTions,  particularly  when  the  in- 
telledlual  powers  are  not  employed  to  cool  our 
fenfations,  retraces  them  with  mechanical  exad:- 
nefs. 

This  habitual  flavery,  to  firil  impreflions,  has 
a  more  baneful  effed:  on  the  female  than  the  male 
^haradler,  becaufe  bufinefs  and  other  dry  employ- 
ments of  the  underflanding,  tend  to  deaden  the 
feelings  and  break  alibciations  that  do  violence 
to  reafon.  But  females,  who  are  made  women 
of  w^hen  they  are  mere  children,  and  brought 
back  to  childhood  when  they  ought  to  leave  the 
go-cart  for  ever,  have  not  fufiicient  ftrength  of 
mind  to  efface  the  fuperindudions  of  art  that  have 
fmothered  nature. 

Every  thing  that  they  fee  or  hear  ferves  to  fix: 
impreflions,  call  forth  emotions,  and  allociate 
ideas,  that  give  a  fexual  character  to  the  mind. 
Falfe  notions  of  beauty  and  delicacy  flop  the 
growth  of  their  limbs  and  produce  a  fickly 
Ibrenefs,  rather  than  delicacy  of  organs ;  and  thus 

w^eakened 


2o6         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

weakened  by  being  employed  in  unfolding  inftead 
of  examining  the  firfbaflbciations,  forced  on  them 
by  every  furrounding  objedt,  how  can  they  attain 
the  vigour  neceflary  to  enable  them  to  throw  off 
their  faditious  cbarader  ? — v/here  find  flrength 
to  recur  to  reafon  and  rife  fcpericur  to  a  fyftem 
of  oppreiTion,  that  blafls  the  fair  promifes  of 
fpring  ?  This  cruel  afibciation  of  ideas,  which 
every  thing  confpires  to  twifl  into  all  their  habits 
of  thinking,  or,  to  fpeak  v/ith  m^ore  precifion,  of 
feeling,  receives  new  force  when  they  begin  to 
ad:  a  little  for  themfelves  ;  for  they  then  perceive 
that  it  is  only  through  their  addrefs  to  excite 
emotions  in  men,  that  pleafure  and  posver  are  to 
be  obtained.  Befides,  all  the  books  profefTedly 
written  for  their  inftruclion,  which  make  tne 
firfl  impreflion  on  their  minds,  all  inculcate  the 
fame  opinions.  Educated  then  in  worfe  than 
Egyptian  bondage,  it  is  unreafonable,  as  well  as 
cruel,  to  upbraid  them  with  faults  that  can  fcarce- 
ly  be  avoided,  unlefs  a  degree  of  native  vigour  be 
flippofed,  that  falls  to  the  lot  of  very  few  amongft 
mankind. 

For  inftance,  the  fevereil:  farcafms  have  been 
levelled  againfl  the  fex,  and  they  have  been  ridi- 
culed for  repeating    *  a  £'t   of  phrafes  learnt  by 

*  rote,'  v/hen  nothing  could  be  more  natural,  con- 
fidering  the  education  they  receive,  and  that  their 

*  higheft  praife  is  to  obey,  unargued' — the  will  of 
man.  If  they  are  not  allowed  to  have  reafon 
fufficient  to  govern  their  own  conduct — why,  all 
they  learn — muft  be  learned  by  rote  !  And  when 
all  their  ingenuity  is  called  forth  to  adjufl:  their 
drcfs,   *  a  paffion  for  a  fcarlet  coat,'  is  fo  natural, 

that 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN'.  207 

that  It  never  furprifed  me  ;  and,  allowing  Pope'3 
fummary  of  their  charadter  to  be  juft,  *  that  every 
*  woman  is  at  heart  a  rake,'  why  ihould  they  be 
bitterly  cenfured  for  feeking  a  congenial  mind, 
and  preferring  a  rake  to  a  man  of  fenfe  ? 

Rakes  know  how  to  work  on  their  fenfibility, 
whilll  the  modeil  merit  of  reafonable  men  has, 
of  courfe,  lefs  effedl  on  their  feelings,  and  they 
cannot  reach  the  heart  by  the  way  of  the  under- 
ftanding,  becaufe  they  have  few  fentiments  in 
common. 

It  feems  a  little  abfurd  to  expe5:  women  to  be 
more  reafonable  than  men  in  their  likings y  and 
ftiil  to  deny  them  the  uncontrouled  ufe  of  reafon. 
When  do  vaQnfall-in-lo'-ue  vnth.  fenfe  ?  When  do 
they,  with  their  luperioiir  powers  and  advanta- 
ges, turn  from  the  perfon  to  the  mind  ?  And  how 
can  they  then  expedt  wom.en,  who  are  only  taughs 
to  obferve  behaviour,  and  acquire  manners  rather 
than  morals,  to  defpife  what  they  have  been  all 
their  lives  labouring  to  attain  ?  Where  are  they 
fuddenly  to  find  judgment  enough  to  weigh  pa- 
tiently the  {^nH'::,  of  an  awkward  virtuous  man, 
when  his  manners,  of  which  they  are  made  criti- 
cal judges,  are  rebuffing,  and  his  converfation  cold 
and  dull,  becaufe  it  does  not  confift  of  pretty  re- 
partees, or  well  turned  compliments  ?  In  order 
to  admire  or  efteem  any  thing  for  a  continuance^ 
we  muil:,  at  leall,  have  our  curiofity  excited  by 
knowing,  in  fome  degree,  what  wc  admire  -,  for 
we  are  unable  to  eflimate  the  value  of  qualities 
and  virtues  above  our  comAprehenfion.  Such  a 
refped:,  when  it  is  felt,  maybe  very  fublime  ; 
and    the    confuf.-d  confcioufnefs  of  humility  may 

'"  render 


2o8         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

render  the  dependent  creature  an  interefting  ob- 
jeit,  in  Ibme  points  of  view  j  but  human  love 
muil  have  groller  ingredients  ;  and  the  perfon 
very  naturally  will  come  in  for  its  lliare — and,  an 
ample  fliare  it  moilly  has  ! 

Love  is,  in  a  great  degree,  an  arbitrary  paffion, 
and  will  reign,  like  fo me  other  ftal king  mifchiefs, 
by  its  own  authority,  without  deigning  to  rea- 
fon  J  and  it  may  alfo  be  eafily  diflinguifhed  from 
efteem,  the  foundation  of  friendfliip,  becaufe  it  is 
often  excited  by  evanefcent  beauties  and  graces, 
though  to  give  an  energy  to  the  fentiment,  fome- 
thing  more  folid  mull  deepen  their  impreiTion 
and  fet  the  imagination  to  work,  to  make  the  moft 
fair — the  firft  good. 

Common  paiTions  are  excited  by  common 
qualities. — Men  look  for  beauty  and  the  fimpcr 
of  good-humoured  docility  :  women  are  capti- 
vated by  eafy  manners  5  a  gentleman-like  man 
feldom  fails  to  pleafe  them,  and  their  thirlly  ears 
eagerly  drink  the  inlinuating  nothings  of  polite- 
nefs,  whilft  they  turn  from  the  unintelligible 
founds  of  the  charmer — reafon,  charm  he  never 
fo  wifely.  With  refpedl  to  fuperficial  accom- 
pliihments,  the  rake  certainly  has  the  advantage  ; 
and  of  thele  females  can  form  an  opinion,  for  it 
is  their  own  ground.  Rendered  gay  and  giddy 
by  the  whole  tenor  of  their  lives,  the  very  afped: 
of  wifdom,  or  the  fevere  graces  of  virtue,  muil 
have  a  luj^ubrious  appearance  to  them  ;  and  pro- 
duce a  kind  of  refiraint  from  which  they  and 
love,  fportive  child,  naturally  revolt.  Without 
ta{>e,  excepting  of  the  lighter  kind,  for  tafle  is 
the  offspring  of  judgment,  how  can  they  difcover 

that 


RIGHTS  OF  V/OMAN.  209 

that  true  beauty  and  grace  muft  arife  from  the 
play  of  the  mind  ?  and  how  can  they  be  expell- 
ed to  reUih  in  a  lover  what  they  do  not,  or  very 
imperfedly,  poffefs  themfelves  ?  The  fympathy 
that  unites  hearts,  and  invites  to  confidence,  in 
them  is  fo  very  faint,  that  it  cannot  take  fire,  and 
thus  mount  to  pafTion.  No,  I  repeat  it,  the  love 
cheri/hed  by  fuch  minds>  mufl  have  grolTer  fuel. 

The  inference  is  obvious  j  till  women  are  led 
to  exercife  their  underftandings,  they  fhould  not 
be  fatirized  for  their  attachment  to  rakes  •  not 
even  for  being  rakes  at  heart,  when  it  appears  to 
be  the  inevitable  confequence  of  their  education. 
They  who  live  to  plcafe — muil  find  their  enjoy- 
ments, their  happinefs,  in  pleafure  !  It  is  a  trite, 
yet  true  remark,  that  we  never  do  any  thing  well> 
unlefs  we  love  it  for  its  ovni.  fake* 

Suppofing,  however,  for  a  moment^  that  wo- 
men were,  in  fome  future  revolution  of  time,  to 
become,  what  I  fincerely  wi(h  them  to  be,  even 
love  would  acquire  more  ferious  dignity,  and  be 
purified  in  its  own  fires  ^  and  virtue  giving  true 
delicacy  to  their  aftedtions,  they  would  turn  with 
difguft  from  a  rake.  Reafoning  then,  as  well  as 
feeling,  the  only  province  of  v/oman,  at  prefent^ 
they  might  eafily  guard  againft  exteriour  graces, 
and  quickly  learn  to  defpife  the  fenfibility  that  had 
been  excited  and  hackneyed  in  the  ways  of  v/o- 
men,  wliofe  trade  was  vice  5  and  allurements. 
Wanton  airs.  They  would  recoiled;  that  the 
flame,  one  mufl  ufe  appropriated  exprefiions, 
which  they  wifhed  to  light  up,  had  been  ex- 
haufted  by  lufi:,  and  that  the  fated  appetite  lofing 
all  relifh  for  pure  and  fimple  pleafures,  could  only 
O  be 


2IO        VINDICATION  OF  TPIE 

be  roufed  by  licentious  arts  or  variety.  What 
fatIsIad:ion  could  a  woman  of  delicacy  promife 
herfclf  in  a  union  with  fuch  a  man,  when  the 
very  artleffnefs  of  her  afxedion  might  appear  in- 
fiped  ?  Thus  does  Dryden  defcribe  the  fituation^ 

'■    '         *  VVhere  lovg  is  duty,  on  the  female  W«, 

•  On  theirs  mere  fenfual  guft,  and  wuoht  vtith  furly  pride.' 

'  But  one  grancl  truth  women  have  yet  to  learn, 
though  much  i-t  Imports  them  to  a6t  according- 
ly. In  the  choice  of  a  huil)and,  they  fliould  not 
be  ledaftray  by  the  qualities  of  a  lover — for  a  lov- 
er the  huibandj-even  fuppofmg  him  to  be  wife  and 
virtuous,  cannot  long  remain. 

Were  women  mors  rationally  educated,  could 
ihey  take  a  more  comprehenfive  view  of  things, 
they  would  be  contented  to  love  but  once  in  their 
lives  ;  and  after  marriage  calmly  let  pafTion  fub- 
fide  into  frienddiip — into  that  tender  intimacy^ 
which  is  the  befl:  refug6  from  care  ;  yet  is  built 
on  luch  pure,  flill  affedtions,  that  idle  jealoulies 
would  not  be  allowed  to  difturb  the  difcharge 
of  the  fober  duties  of  life,  nor  to  engrofs  the 
thoughts  that  ought  to  be  other  wife  employed. 
This  is  a  flate  in  which  many  men  live  ;  but 
few,  very  few  women.  And  the  difference  msy 
eafily  be  accounted  for,  without  recurring  to  a 
fexual  charafter.  Men,  for  whom  we  are  told 
women  were  made,  have  too  much  occupied  the 
thoughts  of  women  j  and  this  ailbciation  has  fo 
entangled  love  with  all  their  motives  of  adiion  ; 
and,  to  harp  a  little  on  an  old  ftring,  having  been 
folely  employed  either  to  prepare  themfelves  to 
excite  love,   or  actually  putting  their  leflbns   in 

pradice. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  211 

practice,  they  cannot  live  without  Jove.  But, 
when  a  icnfe  of  duty,  or  fear  of  Cn^me,  obHges 
them  to  reilrain  this  pampered  defu*e  of  pleafinrj 
beyond  certain  lengths,  too  far  for  delicacy,  it  is 
true,  though  far  from  criminality,  they  obliinate- 
ly  determine  to  love,  I  fpeak  of  the  paffion,  their 
huibands  to  the  end  of  the  chapter — and  then 
ailing  the  part  wh  ich  they  fooliflily  exacted  from 
their  lovers,  they  become  abjedt  wosrs,  and  fond 
ilaves. 

Men  of  wit  and  fancy  are  often  rakes ;  and  .fin- 
cy  is  the  food  of  love.  Such  men  will  infpire 
paffion.  Half  the  fex,  in  its  prefent  infantile 
flate,  would  pine  for  a  Lovelace  j  a  man  fo  wit- 
ty, fo  graceful,  and  fo  valiant  :  and  can  they  de^ 
JtTve  blame  for  acting  according  to  principles  fo 
conftantly  inculcated  ?  They  want  a  lover,  and 
protestor ;  and,  behold  him  kneeling  before  them 
— bravery  proflrate  to  beauty  !  The  virtues  of  a 
hufband  are  thus  thrown  by  love  into  the  back 
ground,  and  gay  hopes,  or  lively  emotions,  ban^ 
i{h  refledlion  till  the  day  of  reckoning  comes  ; 
and  come  it  furely  will,  to  turn  the  fprightly 
lover  into  a  furly  fufpicious  tyrant,  who  con- 
temptuouHy  inlults  the  very  weaknefs  he  fofler- 
ed»  Or,  fuppofmg  the  rake  reformed,  he  can- 
not quickly  get  rid  of  old  habits.  When  a  man 
of  abilities  is  hrfl:  carried  away  by  his  paffions,  it 
is  neceflary  that  fentiment  and  tafte  varnifli  the 
enormities  of  vice,  and  give  a  zeil  to  brutal  in- 
dulgences ;  but  when  the  glofs  of  novelty  is 
worn  off,  and  pleafure  palls  upon  the  fenfe,  laf- 
civioufnefs  becomes  barefaced,  and  enjoyment  on- 
ly the  defperatc  effort  of  weaknefs  flying  from  re- 
O  2  fledioi] 


^12         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

flection  as  from  a  legion  of  devils.  Oh  !  virtue 
thou  art  not  an  empty  name  !  All  that  life  can 
give — thou  giveft  ! 

If  much  comfort  cannot  be  expedcd  from  the 
f-iendfhip  of  a  reformed  rake  of  fuperiour  abili- 
ties, what  is  the  confequence  when  he  lacketh 
fenfe,  as  well  as  principles  ?  Verily  mifery,  in 
its  mod  hideous  Ihape.  When  the  habits  of 
weak  people  are  confolidated  by  time,  a  reforma- 
tion is  barely  poiTible  ;  and  adually  makes  the 
beings  miferable  who  have  not  fufricient  mind 
to  be  amufed  by  innocent  pleafure ;  like  the  tradef- 
man  who  retires  from  the  hurry  of  bufmefs,  na- 
ture prefcnts  to  them  only  a  univerilil  blank  ;  and 
the  refllefs  thoughts  prey  en  the  damped  fpirits*. 
Their  reformation,  as  well  as  his  retirement,  ac- 
tually makes  them  wretched  becaufe  it  deprives 
them  of  all  employment,  by  quenching  the  hopes 
and  fears  that  let  in  motion  their  iluggiHi  minds. 

If  fuch  is  the  force  of  habit  ;  if  fuch  is  the 
bondage  of  folly >  how  carefully  ought  we  to 
guard  the  mind  from  floring  up  vicious  aflbcia- 
tions  ;  and  equally  careful  fhouid  we  be  to  cul- 
tivate the  underftanding,  to  lave  the  poor  wight 
from  the  weak  dependent  ftate  of  even  harmlefs 
ignorance.  For  it  is  the  right  ufe  of  realbn  alone 
which  makes  us  independent  of  every  thing— ex- 
cepting the  unclouded  Reafon — *  whofe  fervice 
is  perfedt  freedom.'  CHAP. 

*  I  have  frequently  fern  this  exttnplified  in  women,  whole  be3uty  could 
»io  longer  be  repaired.  Tlicy  have  retired  from  the  noify  fcenes  of  difli- 
pation  ;  but,  unlels  they  became  methodifts,  ihe  folitude  of  the  feleiS  focie- 
ty  of  their  family  connexions  or  acquaintance,  has  prefented  only  a  fearful 
void  ;  confequently,  nervous  complaints,  and  all  the  vapotirifh  train  of 
jdleneff ,  rendered  them  quite  as  ulcicfs,  and  far  mere  unhappy>  than  when 
they  joined  the  gijdy  throng. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  213 

CHAP.     VII. 

MODESTV.^ — COMPREHENSIVELY   CONSIDER'^ 
ED,    x\ND     NOT     AS     A    SEXUAL    VIRTUE. 

Modesty  l  Sacred  ofFsprlng  of  fenfibility 
and  realbn  ! — true  delicacy  of  mind  ! — n^ay  I 
unblamed  prefume  to  inveftigate  thy  nature,  and 
trace  to  its  covert  the  mild  charm,  that  mellow- 
ing each  harili  feature  of  a  character,  renders 
what  would  otherwife  only  infpire  cold  admira- 
tion—lovely ! — Thou  that  fmootheft  the  wrin- 
kles of  wifdom,  and  fofteneft  the  tone  of  the 
fublimeft  virtues  till  they  all  melt  into  humani- 
ty 'y — thou  that  fpreadefl  the  ethereal  cloud  that 
furrounding  love  heightens  every  beauty,  it  half 
fliades,  breathing  thofe  coy  fweets  that  fleal  into 
the  heart,  and  charm  the  fenfes — modulate  for 
me  the  language  of  perfuafive  reafon,  till  I  roule 
my  fex  from  the  flowery  bed,  on  which  they  fu- 
pinely  ileep  life  away  ! 

In  fpeaking  of  the  ailociation  of  our  ideas,  I 
have  noticed  two  diftind:  modes  ;  and  in  defining 
modefly,  it  appears  to  me  equally  proper  to  dif- 
criminate  that  purity  of  mind,  which  is  the  ef- 
fedl  of  chaftity,  from  a  fimplicity  of  charader 
that  leads  us  to  form,  .a  juft  opinion  of  ourfelves, 
equally  diftant  from  vanity  or  prefumption, 
though  by  no  means  incompatible  with  a  lofty 
confcioufnefs  of  our  own  dignity.  Modefty,  in 
the  latter  fignification  of  the  term,  is,  that  fober- 
nefs  of  mind  which  teaches  a  m.an  not  to  think 
more  highly  of  himfsif  than  he  ought  to  think, 
'     O  3  and 


214         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

and  fliould  be  diftinguiflied  from  humility,  be- 
caufe  humility  is  a  kind  of  felf-abafement. 

A  modell  man  often  conceives  a  great  plan, 
and  tenacioudy  adheres  to  it,  confcious  of  his 
own  ftrength,  till  fuccefs  gives  it  a  fandtion  that 
determines  its  charader.  Milton  was  not  arro- 
gant when  he  fuffered  a  fuggeflion  of  judgment 
to  efcape  him  that  proved  a  prophefy  3  nor  was 
General  Wafhington  when  he  accepted  of  the 
command  of  the  American  forces.  The  latter 
has  always  been  chara61:erized  as  a  modeft  man  ; 
but  had  he  been  merely  humble,  he  would  pro- 
bably have  flirunk  back  irrefolute,  afraid  of  trufl- 
ing  to  himfelf  the  direction  of  an  enterprife,  on 
which  fo  much  depended. 

A  modefl  man  is  flcady,  an  humble  man  timid, 
and  a  vain  one  prefumptuous  : — this  is  the  judg- 
ment, which  the  obfervation  of  many  characters, 
has  led  me  to  form.  Jefus  Chrifl:  w^as  modefl, 
Mofes  was  humble,  and  Peter  vain. 

Thus,  difcrim.inating  modefty  from  humility 
in  one  cafe,  I  do  not  mean  to  confound  it  with 
badifulnefs  in  the  other.  Baflifulnefs,  in  fa(5t,  is 
fo  diftind:  from  modefty,  that  the  mofl;  bafliful 
lafs,  or  raw  country  lout,  often  becomes  the  mofh 
impudent  3  for  their  bafhfulnefs  being  merely  the 
infiindive  timidity  of  ignorance,  cuftom  foon 
changes  it  into  alTurance  ^''.  Thp 

*  '  Such  is  the  courtry-mr.iden's  friglit, 

*  When  fiift  a  rtcl-coai  is  in  (ight  ; 

*  Behind  the  dcor  ftie  hides  her  face  ; 

*  Next  time  at  diltance  eyes  the  bee  : 
'  She  row  can  ail  his  terrors  (land, 

*  Nor  from  his  (qiieeze  withdraws  her  hand. 

*  She  piays  f.mnliar  in  liis  arms, 

^  And  cv'ry  Ibldicr  hath  his  charms  ; 

<  From  tent  to  tent  f?;e  fpreads  her  flame  ; 

<  For  cultoni  ccr.querj  lear  and  Hiam:.'         C^j', 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  215 

The  fliamelefs  behaviour  of  the  profhitiites, 
who  infeft  the  flreets  of  London,  raifing  alter- 
nate emotions  of  pity  and  difguft,  may  ferve  to 
illuflratc  this  remark.  They  trample  on  virgin 
badifulnefs  with  afort  of  bravado,  and  glorying 
in  their  fhame,  become  more  audacioufly  lewd 
than  men,  however  depraved,  to  whom  this  fexu- 
al  quality  has  not  been  gratuitoully  granted,  ever 
appear  to  be.  But  thcfe  poor  ignorant  wretches 
never  had  any  modefty  to  lofe,  when  they  con- 
figned  themfelves  to  infamy  ;  for  modefty  is  a 
virtue  not  a  quality.  No,  they  were  only  bafli- 
ful,  fhame-faced  innocents ;  and  lofing  their  in- 
nocence, their  fliame-facednefs  was  rudely  brufh- 
ed  off ;  a  virtue  would  have  left  fome  veftiges  in 
the  mind,  had  it  been  facriiiced  to  paflion,  to 
make  us  refpecfl  the  grand  ruin. 

Purity  of  mind,  or  that  genuine  delicacy,  which 
is  the  only  virtuous  fupport  of  chaftity,  is  near 
akin  to  that  refinement  of  humanity,  which  never 
rsfides  in  any  but  cultivated  minds.  It  is  fome- 
thing  nobler  than  innocence ;  it  is  the  delicacy 
of  relleftion,  and  not   the  coynefs  of  ignorance! 

The  referve  of  reafon,  which,  like  habitual 
cleanlinefs,  is  feldom  feen  in  any  great  degree, 
unlefs  the  foul  is  adive,  may  eafily  be  diftinguifli- 
ed  from  ruftic  Ihynefs  or  wanton  ikittifhnefs  ; 
and,  fa  far  from  being  incompatible  with  knov/- 
ledge,  it  is  its  faireft  fruit.  What  a  grofs  idea  of 
modefty  had  the  writer  of  the  following  remark  ! 

*  The  lady  who  af]<.cd  the  queflion  whether  wo- 

*  men  may  be  inftruded  in  the  modern  fyftem  of 
'  botany,  confiftently  with  female  delicacy  ? — 
^  was  accufed  of  ridiculous    prudery  :    neverthe- 

O  4  *  Icfs 


2i6        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

*  lefs,  if  flie  had  propofcd  the  queilion  to  me,  I 
'  fhoLild  certainly  have  anfwered — They  cannot.* 
Thus  is  the  fair  book  of  knowledge  to  be  fhut 
with  an  everlafting  fcal  !  On  reading  fimilar  paf- 
fages  I  have  reverentially  lifted  up  my  eyes  and 
heart  to  Him  who  liveth  for  ever  and  ever,  and 
faid,  O  my  Father,  hafi:  Thou  by  the  very  con- 
ftitution  of  her  nature  forbid  Thy  child  to  feck 
Thee  fn  the  fair  forms  of  truth  ?  And,  can  her 
foul  be  fuUied  by  the  knowledge  that  awfully 
calls  her  to  Thee  ? 

I  have  then  philofophically  purfued  thefe  re- 
ile6tions  till  I  inferred  that  thofe  women  who 
have  moft  improved  their  reafon  muft  have  the 
moil:  modefty — though  a  dignified  fedatenefs  of 
deportment  may  have  fucceeded  the  playful,  be- 
witching bafhfulnefs  of  youth*. 

And  thus  have  I  argued.  To  render  chaflity 
the  virtue  from  \yhich  unfophifticated  modefty 
will  naturally  flow,  the  attention  Ihould  be  called 
away  from  employments  which  only  cxercife  the 
fenfibility  -,  and  the  heart  made  to  beat  time  to 
humanity,  rather  than  to  throb  with  love.  The 
woman  who  has  dedicated  a  confiderable  portion 
of  her  time  to  purfuits  purely  intelled:ual,  and 
whofe  afFedlions  have  been  exercifed  by  humane 
plans  of  ufefulnefs,  muft  have  more  purity  of 
mind,  as  a  natural  confequence,  than  the  igno- 
rant beings  whofe  time  and  thoughts  have  been 
occupied  by  gay  pleafares  or  fchemes  to  conquer 

hearts. 


»  MocJe'Jy,  is  the  graceful  ca»m  virtue  of  maturity  5  bafljru'nefs,   the 
^haim  of  vivacious  ypuih.  ■  t  • 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  217 

hearts*.  The  regulation  of  the  behaviour  is  not 
modefty,  though  thoic  who  ftudy  rules  of  deco- 
rum arc,  in  general,  termed  modefl  women. 
Make  the  heart  clean,  let  it  expand  and  feel  for 
all  that  is  human,  inftead  of  being  narrowed  by 
feliiih  paffions  ;  and  let  the  mind  frequently  con- 
template liibje(fts  that  exercife  the  underflanding, 
without  heating  the  imagination,  and  artlefs  mo- 
defly  will  give  the  finifliing  touches  to  the  pic- 
ture. 

She  who  can  difcern  the  dawn  of  immortality, 
in  the  flreaks  that  fhoot  athwart  the  miify  night 
of  ignorance,  promiiing  a  clearer  day,  will  re- 
fpedV,  as  a  facred  temple,  the  body  that  enflirines 
fach  an  improvable  foul.  True  love,  like  wife, 
fpreads  this  kind  of  myflerious  fandity  round  the 
beloved  objed:,  making  the  lover  moil  modefl 
when  in  her  prefence-j-.  So  rcferved  is  afreclion 
that,  receiving  or  returning  perfonal  endearments, 
it  wiflies,  not  only  to  fliun  the  human  eye,  as  a 
kind  of  profanation ;  but  to  diffufe  an  encircling 
cloudy  obfcurity  to  fliut  out  even  the  fancy  fpark- 
lingfunbeams.  Yet,  that  affedlion  does  not  de- 
ferve  the  epithet  of  chafle,  which  does  not  re- 
ceive 


*.I  have  converfed,  as  tn?in  with  mar,  with  medical  men,  on  anatomical 
fubjeits  ;  and  compared  the  proportions  of  tht;  lumian  body  with  artills — 
yet  fuch  modefty  did  I  meet  with,  that  I  was  never  rtnimded  by  word,  or 
look  of  my  fex,  of  the  abfurd  rules  wlijch  n);'.ke  modefty  a  j'barifaical 
cloak  of  we.iknefs.  And  I  am  perfuaded  tliat  in  tiie  piHlnit  of  knowledga 
women  would  never  be  infulted  by  fenfible  men,  and  rniely  by  men  of 
any  defcription,  if  tliey  did  not  by  mock  modefty  remind  ihern  tl.at  they 
were  women  :  adhiated  by  the  f uiic  fpirit  as  the  Porttiguefe  ladies,  wivo 
would  think  their  charms  infulted,  if,  when  left  alone  with  a  man,  he  did 
not,  at  kal\,  attempt  to  be  very  tamiliar  wiih  their  peiiVns.  Men  arf  not 
always  men  in  the  company  of  woi«en,  nor  virould  women  alv-ays  remem- 
ber that  they  are  womcK,  if  they  wtre  allowed  to  a<juire  more  uiidtilUnd- 

f  M.Ue  or  female  ;  for  the  wcrld  contains  many  modeP.  men. 


2i8         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

ceive  a  fubllme  gloom  of  tender  melancholy,  that 
allows  the  mind  for  a  moment  to  ftand  ftill  ^nd 
enjoy  the  prefent  fatisfadtion,  when  a  confciouf- 
iiefs  of  the  Divine  prefence  is  felt — for  this  mull: 
ever  be  the  food  of  joy  ! 

As  I  have  always  been  fond  of  tracing  to  its 
fource  in  nature  any  prevailing  cuftom,  I  have 
frequently  thought  that  it  was  a  fen ti men t  of  af- 
fe(5lion  for  whatever  had  touched  the  peifon  of  an 
abfent  or  lofl:  friend,  which  gave  birth  to  that 
refpe'ft  for  relicks,  fo  much  abufed  by  felfilli 
priefls.  Devotion,  or  love,  may  be  allowed  to 
hallow  the  garments  as  well  as  the  perfon ;  for 
the  lover  mufl  want  fancy  who  has  not  a  fort  of 
iacred  refpe^t  for. the  glove  or  flipper  of  his  mif- 
trefs.  He  could  not  confound  them  with  vuU 
gar  things  of  the  fame  kind.  This  fine  fenti.- 
inent,  perhaps,  would  not  bear  to  be  analyzed  by 
the  experimental  philofopher — but  of  fuch  fluff 
is  human  rapture  made  up  ! — A  ffiadowy  phan- 
tom glides  before  us,  obfcuring  every  other  ob- 
jed:;  yet  when  the  foft  cloud  is  grafped,  the  form 
melts  into  common  air,  leaving  afolitary  void,  or 
fweet  perfume,  flolen  from  the  violet,  that  mem- 
ory long  holds  dear.  But  I  have  tripped  una^ 
Avares  on  fairy  ground,  feeling  the  balmy  gale  of 
ipring  ftealing  on  me,  though  November  frowns. 

As  a  fex,  women  are  more  chafle  than  men, 
and  as  modefly  is  the  efted  of  chafhity,  they  may 
deferve  to  have  this  virtue  afcribed  to  them  in 
rather  an  appropriated  fenfe  ;  yet,  I  mufl  be  al- 
lowed to  add  an  hefitating  if  : — for  I  doubt  whe- 
ther chaflity  will  produce  modefly,  though  it 
may  propriety  of  condu(?^,  Vv'hen  it  is  merely  a 

refpevl 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  219 

fefpefl  for  the  opinioii  of  the  world*,  and  whea 
coquetry  and  the  lovelorn  tales  of  novelifts  em- 
ploy the  thoughts.  Nay,  from  experience,  and 
reafon,  I  fhould  be  led  to  expert  to  meet  with 
more  modefly  amongfl  men  than  women,  iimply 
becaufe  men  exercife  their  underflandings  more 
than  women . 

But,  with  refpe6l  to  propriety  of  behaviour, 
excepting  one  clafs  of  females,  women  have  evi- 
dently the  advantage.  What  can  be  more  difguft- 
jng  than  that  impudent  drofs  of  gallantry,  thought 
fo  manly,  which  makes  many  men  flare  infi.ilt- 
ingly  at  every  female  they  meet  ?  Is  this  refpe6t 
for  the  fex  ?  This  loofe  behaviour  fhews  fuch  ha- 
bitual depravity,  fuch  weaknefs  of  mind,  that  it 
is  vain  to  exped:  much  public  or  private  virtue, 
till  both  men  and  women  grow  more  modeft — 
till  men,  curbing  a  fenfual  fondnefs  for  the  fex, 
or  an  afFe(ftation  of  manly  allurance,  more  prop- 
ei-ly  fpeaking,  impudence,  treat  each  other  with 
refpedt — unlefs  appetite  or  pafilon  gives  the  tone, 
peculiar  to  it,  to  their  behaviour.  I  m^ean  even 
perfonal  refpeft — the  modell  refped  of  humani- 
ty, and  fellow-feeling — not  the  the  libidinous 
mockery  of  gallantly,  nor  the  infolent  conde- 
fcenfion  of  protedorihip. 

To  carry  the  obfervation  flill  further,  modefty 
mufh  heartily  difclaim,  and  refufe  to  dwell  with 
that  debauchery  of  mind,  which  leads  a  man 
coolly  to  bring  forward,  without  a  blufli,  inde- 
cent alKifions,  or  obfcene  witticifms,  in  the  prc- 
fence  of  a  fellow  creature  ;  women  are  now  out 


•  Tlie  i^nmodeft  beViavicur  of  many  married  woinen,  who  arc  fievjrths 
left  f.ii:liful  ic  tlu'lr  hufljiiiili"  beds,  wilJ  iiiu3r.it;  iliii  jcnisik. 


220         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

of  the  queftion,  for  then  it  is  brutality.  Refped: 
for  man,  as  man,  is  the  foundation  of  every  noble 
fentiment.  How  much  more  modcft  is  the  lib- 
ertine who  obeys  the  call  of  appetite  or  fancy, 
than  the  lewd  joker  who  fets  the  table  in  a  roar  ! 
This  is  one  of  the  many  inftances  in  which 
the  fexual  difti nation  refpedling  modefty  has  pro- 
ved fatal  to  virtue  and  happinefs.  It  is,  how- 
ever, carried  ftill  further,  and  woman,  weak  wo- 
man !  made  by  her  education  the  flave  of  fenfi- 
bility,  is  required,  on  the  mod  trying  occafions, 
to  refill  that  fenfibility,  *  Can  any  thing,'  fays 
Knox,  *  be  more  abfurd  than  keeping  women  in 

*  a  ilate    of  ignorance,   and   yet    fo    vehemently 

*  to  iniift  on  their  refifbing  temptation  ?' — Thus, 
when  virtue  or  honour  make  it  proper  to  check  a 
pafiion,  the  burden  is  thrown  on  the  weaker 
ihoulders,  contrary  to  reafon  and  true  modefty, 
which,  at  leaft,  fliould  ]cnder  the  felf-denial  mu- 
tual, to  fay  nothing  of  the  generofity  of  bravery,, 
fuppofed  to  be  a  manly  virtue. 

In  the  fame  ftrain  runs  RouHeau's  and  Dr. 
Gregory's  advice  refpecting  mcdefty,  ftrangely 
mifcalied  !  -for  they  both  defu'e  a  wife  to  leave  it 
in  doubt  whether  feniibility  or  weaknefs  led  her 
to  her  huiband's  arms. — The  woman  is  immodetl: 
who  can  let  the  ihadow  of  fuch  a  doubt  remain 
on  herhufband's  mind  a  m.oment. 

But  to  flate  the  fubjedl  in  a  different  light. — 
The  want  of  modeily,  which  I  principally  de- 
plore as  fubvcrfive  of  morality,  arifes  from  the 
llate  of  warfare  fo  flrenuoufly  fupported  by  vo- 
luptuous men  as  the  very  elTence  of  modefty, 
though,  in  fact,  its  bane  ^  bccaufe  it  is  a  refine- 
ment 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  221 

•ment  oa  fenfual  deiire,  that  men  fall  into  who 
have  not  fufficient  virtue  to  relilh  the  innocent 
pleafures  of  love.  A  man  of  delicacy  carries  his 
notions  of  modelly  ftill  further,  for  neither  weak- 
nefs  nor  fenfibility  will  gratify  him— he  looks 
for  affection. 

Again  ;  men  boaft  of  their  triumphs  over  wo- 
men, what  do  they  boaft  of  ?  Truly  the  creature 
of  feniibility  was  furprifed  by  her  fenfibility  into 
folly — into  vice*;  and  the  dreadful  reckoning 
falls  heavily  on  her  own  weak  head,  when  reafon 
wakes.  For  where  art  thou  to  find  comfort, 
forlorn  and  difconfolate  one  ?  He  who  ought  to 
have  diretiled  thy  reafon,  and  fupported  thy  weak- 
nets,  has  betrayed  thee!  In  a  dream  of  paiiion 
thou  confentedlf  to  w^ander  through  flowery 
lawns,  and  heedlefly  fbepping  over  the  precipice 
to  which  thy  guide,  in  Head  of  guarding,  lured 
thee,  thou  ftartell  from  thy  dream  only  to  face  a 
fneering,  frowning  world,  and  to  find  thyfelf 
alone  in  a  wafle,  for  he  that  triumphed  in  thy 
weaknefs  is  now  purfuing  new  conquefts  ^  but: 
for  thee — there  is  no  redemption  on  this  fide  the 
grave  !  And  what  refource  haft  thou  in  an  ener- 
vated mind  to  raife  a  finking  heart  ? 

But,  if  the  fexes  are  really  to  live  in  a  flate  of 
warfare,  if  nature  has  pointed  it  out,  let  men  adt 
nobly,  or  let  pride  whifper  to  them,  that  the 
Vidiory  is  mean  when  they  merely  vanqui(h  fen- 
fibility. The  real  conqueft  is  that  over  afFedlion 
not  taken  by  furprife- — when,  like  Heloifa,  a  wo- 
man gives  up  all  thev/orld,  deliberately,  for  love. 
I  do  not  now  confider  the  wiidom  or  virtue  of 

fuch 

•  The  poormoili  flutteriFg  round  a  candlcj  burns  is  wings. 


222         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

fuch  a  facritice,  I  only  contend  that  it  was  a  facn- 
fice  to  affedlion,  and  not  merely  to  fenlibility, 
though  Ihe  had  her  ihare. — And  I  mufl  be  al- 
lowed to  call  her  a  modeft  woman,  before  I  dif- 
mlfs  this  part  of  the  fubjed,  by  faying,  that  till 
men  are  more  chafle  v/omen  will  be  immodeft. 
Where,  indeed,  could  modeft  women  find  huf- 
bands  from  whom  they  would  not  continually 
turn  with  difguft  ?  Modefly  muil  be  equally  cul- 
tivated by  both  fexes,  or  it  will  ever  remain  a 
fickly  hot-houfe  plant,  whilfl  the  affed:ation  of 
it,  the  fig  leaf  borrowed  by  wantonnefs,  may  give 
a  zefl  to  voluptuous  enjoyments. 

Men  will  probably  ftill  infifl  that  woman 
ought  to  have  more  modeily  than  man  ;  but  it 
is  not  difpaflionate  reafoners  who  will  mofl  earn- 
cllly  oppofe  my  opinion.  No,  they  are  the  men 
of  fancy,  the  favourites  of  the  fex,  v/ho  outward- 
ly refpe6l  and  inwardly  defpife  the  weak  creatures 
whom  they  thus  fport  with.  They  cannot  fub- 
mit  to  refign  the  higheil  fenfual  gratification, 
nor  even  to  relifh  the  epicurifm  of  virtue — felf- 
denial. 

To  take  another  view  of  the  fubjecl,  confining 
my  remarks  to  women. 

The  ridiculous  falfities  *  which  are  told  to 
children,  from  miflaken  notions  of  modefi:y,  tend 

very 

*  Children  very  eaily  fee  cats  witli  their  kittens,  biiHs  with  their  yonnj^ 
ene»,  &:c.  Why  then  are  they  not  to  be  told  that  their  mothers  cany  and 
noiuiHi  tliem  in  the  lame  way  ?  As  there  would  then  be  no  appearance  of 
myftery  they  would  never  think,  of  the  fubjeft  more.  Truth  may  always 
be  fold  to  children,  if  it  be  told  gravely  ;  but  it  is  theimmodefty  of  afFe61ed 
modefty,  that  does  all  the  mifchief  ;  and  thi*  fmoke  heats  the  innaginstioa 
by  vainly  eudeavonring  to  obfure  certain  objeiU.  If,  indeed,  childrea 
could  be  kept  entirely  from  improper  company,  we  fliouUI  neverallnde  ta 
any  fuch  fubje£ts  ;  but  as  this  is  impofTible,  it  is  beft  to  tell  them  the  truth, 
efpccialiy  as  luch  informition,  not  interelUng  them,  will  make  no  iniprel^ 
fion  on  their  imagination. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOxMAN.  223 

Very  early  to  inflame  their  imaginations  and  fet 
their  little  minds  to  work,  refpeding  fubjeds, 
which  nature  never  intended  they  ihould  think 
of  till  the  body  arrived  at  fome  degree  of  maturi- 
ty ;  then  the  paffions  naturally  begin  to  take 
place  of  the  fenfes,  as  inflruments  to  unfold  the 
underftanding,  and  form  the  moral  character. 

In  nurferies,  and  boarding-fchools,  I  fear,  girls« 
are  lirft  fpoiled  ;  particularly  in  the  latter-  A 
number  of  girls  fleep  in  the  fame  room,  and  wafh 
together.  And,  though  I  fliould  be  forry  to 
contaminate  an  innocent  creature's  mind  by  in- 
iVdhngfalfe' delicacy,  or  thofe  indecent  prudifh 
notions,  which  early  cautions  refpedting  the  oth- 
er fex~  naturally  engender,  I  fliould  be  very  anx- 
ious to  prevent  their  acquiring  indelicate,  or  im- 
modeft  habits  ;  and  as  many  girls  have  learned 
very  indelicate  tricks,  from  ignorant  fer van ts,  the 
mixing  them  thus  indifcriminately  together,  is 
very  improper. 

To  fay  tlie  truth  women  are,  in  general,  too 
familiar  with  each  other,  which  leads  to  that 
grofs  degree  of  familiarity  that  fo  frequently  ren- 
ders the  marriage  iiate  unhappy.  Why  in  the 
name  of  decency  are  fifters,  female  intimates,  or 
ladies  and  their  waiting-women,  to  be  fo  grofsly 
•  familiar  as  to  forget  the  refpedt  which  one  hu- 
man creature  owes  to  another  ?  That  fqueamilli 
delicacy  which  flirinks  from  the  mod:  difgufting 
offices  when  affcdion  *  or  humanity  lead  us  to 
watch  at  a  lick  pillow,  is  defpicable.     But,  why 

women 

•  Affeinfon  would  rather  make  one  clionfe  to  perform  tliefe  ofHces,  to 
fp^re  the  delicacy  of  a  friend,  by  (till  keeping  a  veil  o\'er  them,  for  the  per- 
fonal  lielp'clTuefs,  produced  by  ficknefi,  iiof  an  Inin:jbli4ig  nrituie. 


224        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

women  in  health  fhould  be  more  familiar  v/itli 
each  other  than  men  are,  when  they  boaft  of  their 
fuperiour  deUcacy,  is  a  folecifm  in  manners  which 
I  could  never  folve. 

In  order  to  preferve  health  and  beauty,  I  fhould 
earneftly  recommend  frequent  ablutions,  to  dig- 
nify my  advice  that  it  may  not  offend  the  faftidi- 
ous  ear ;  and,  by  example,  girls  ought  to  be  taught 
to  waili  and  drcfs  alone,  without,  any  diflindion 
€f  rank  ;  and  if  cuflom  iliould  make  them  re- 
quire fome  little  affifcsince,  let  them  nat  require 
it  till  that  part  of  the  bulinefs  is  over  which 
ought  never  to  be  done  before  a  fellow-crea- 
ture ;  bccaufc  it  is  an  infalt  to  the  majelly  of 
human  nature.  Not  on  the  fcore  of  modefcy, 
but  decency  ;  for  the  care  which  fome  modeit 
women  take,  making  at  the  fame  time  a  difplay 
of  that  care,  not  to  let  their  legs  be  feen,  is  as 
childifli  as  immodefl  *. 

I  could  proceed  flill  further,  till  I  animadvert- 
ed on  fome  itiil  more  indelicate  cuiloms,  which 
men  never  fall  into.  Secrets  are  told — where 
iilence  ought  to  reign  ;  and  that  regard  to  clean- 
linefs,  which  fome  religious  feels  have,  perhaps, 
carried  too  far,  efpecially  the  Ellenes,  amongfl: 
the  Jews,  by  making  that  an  infult  to  God  which 
is  only  an  infult  to  humanity,  is  violated  in  a 
brutal  manner.  IIov/  can  delicate  women  ob- 
trude on  notice  that  part  of  the  animal  economy, 
which  is  fo  very  difguiling  ?  And  is  it  not  very 
rational  to  conclude,    that  the  women  who  have 

not 

•  I  rtm<*n%bci  to  have  met  wiih  a  fertenre,  in  a  book  of  eilucntion,  that 
made  mc  fmile.     '  It  would  be  needlcls  to  caution  you  agiinrt  ^.xitting  your 

•  hand,  by  charce,   untler  your   ntckhanilktrchkf  j  for  a  mocltft  woman 

*  never  i!id  To  1' 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  225 

tiOt  been  taught  to  re fped:  the  human  nature  of 
their  own  iex,  in  thefe  particulars,  will  not  long 
fefped  the  mere  difference  of  fex  in  their  huf- 
bands  ?  After  their  maidehifli  bafhfulnefs  is  once 
loft,  I,  in  fadt,  have  generally  obferved,  that  wo- 
men fall  into  old  habits  5  and  treat  their  hufbands 
as  they  did  their  fillers  or  female  acquaintance. 

Befides,  women  from  necefTity,  becaufe  their 
minds  are  not  cultivated,  have  recourfe  very  oft- 
en to  what  I  familiarly  term  bodily  wit  5  and 
their  intirnacies  are  of  the  fame  kind*  "  In  lliort; 
with  refped  to  both  mind  and  body,  they  are  too 
intimate.  That  decent  perfonal  referve  which  is 
the  foundation  of  dignity  of  characfter,  muft  be 
kept  up  between  women ,  or  their  minds  will 
never  gain  ftrength  or  modefly. 

On  this  account  alfo,  I  objed:  to  many  females 
being  fhut  up  together  in  nurferies,  fchools,  or 
convents.  I  cannot  recoiled;  without  indigna- 
tion, the  jokes  and  hoiden  tricks,  which  knots  of 
young  v/ornen  indulge  themfclves  in,  when  in 
my  youth  accident  threw  me,  an  awkward  ruflic^ 
in  their  way.  They  were  almoft  on  a  par  with 
the  double  meanings,  which  ihake  the  convivial 
table  when  the  glafs  has  circulated  freely^  But^ 
it  is  vain  to  attempt  to  keep  the  heart  pure,  un- 
lefs  the  head  is  furnifhed  with  ideas,  and  fet  to 
Work  to  compare  them,  in  order  to  acquire  judg- 
ment, by  generalizing  limple  ones  j  and  modefty^ 
by  making  the  underilanding  damp  the  fenfibility. 

It  may  be  thought  that  I  lay  too  great  a  flrefs 

on  perfonal  referve  ;  but  it  is  ever  the  handmaid 

of  modelly.     So  that  were  I  to  name  the    graces 

that  ought  to  adorn   beauty,  I   fliould  inrtantly 

P  exclaim. 


tzd        VINDICATION  OF  THE! 

exclaim,  cleanlinefs,  neatnefs,  andperfonal  refervev 
It  is  obvious,  I  fuppofe,  that  the  referve  I  mean, 
has  nothing  fexual  in  it,  and  that  I  think  it  equally 
necelTary  in  both  fexes.  So  neceflary,  indeed,  ia 
that  referve  and  cleanlinefs  which  indolent  wo- 
men too  often  neglect,  that  I  will  venture  to  af- 
firm that  when  two  or  three  women  live  in  the 
fame  houfc,  the  one  will  be  mort  refpedled  by  the 
male  part  of  the  family,  who  refide  with  them> 
leaving  love  entirely  out  of  the  queftion,  who 
pays  this  kind  of  habitual  refped.  to   her  perfon. 

When  domeftic  friends  meet  in  a  morning, 
there  will  naturally  prevail  an  affedlionate  feriouf- 
nefs,  efpecially,  if  each  look  forward  to  the  dif- 
charge  of  daily  duties ;  and,  it  may  be  reckoned 
fanciful,  but  this  fentiment  has  frequently  rifen 
fpontaneoufly  in  my  mind,  I  have  been  pleafed 
after  breathing  the  fweet  bracing  morning  air,  to 
fee  the  fame  kind  of  frefhnefs  in  the  countenances 
I  particularly  loved  ^  I  was  glad  to  fee  them 
braced,  as  it  were,  for  the  day,  and  ready  to  run 
their  courfe  with  the  fun.  The  greetings  of  af- 
fedtion  in  the  morning  are  by  thefe  means  m.ore 
refpedtful  than  the  familiar  tendernefs  which  fre- 
quently prolongs  the  evening  talk.  Nay,  I  have 
often  felt  hurt,  not  to  fay  difgulted,  when  a  friend 
has  appeared,  whom  I  parted  with  full  drefTed 
the  evening  before,  with  her  clothes  huddled  on, 
becaufe  fhe  chofe  to  indulge  herfelf  in  bed  till  the 
lafl  moment. 

Domeftic  affedtion  can  only  be  kept  alive  by 
thefe  negledled  attentions  ;  yet  if  men  and  wo- 
men took  half  as  much  pains  t-o  drefs  habitually 
neat,  as   they   do  to  ornament,  or  rather  to  dif- 

figure^ 


RIGHTS  OF  Woman.       227 

figure,    their  perfons,    much  would  be  done  to- 
wards   the  attainment  of  purity  of  mind.     But 
women  only   drefs  to  gratify  men  of  gallantry  ; 
for  the  lover  is  always  beil:  pleafed  with  the  fim- 
p]e  garb  that  fits  clofe  to  the  fhape.     There  is  an 
impertinence  in  ornaments  that  rebuffs  affection  ; 
becaufe  love  always  clings  roiind  the  idea  of  home. 
As  a  fex,  women  are  habitually  indolent  ;   and 
every  thing   tends  to  make  them  fo.     I  do  not 
forget  the  fpurts  of  activity  which  fenfibility  pro- 
duces ;  but  as  thefe  flights  of  feelings  only  increafe 
the  evil,   they  are  not  to  be  confounded  with  the 
flow,  orderly  walk  of  reafon.     So  great  in  reality 
is   their   mental  and  bodily  indolence,   that  till 
their  body  be  ftrengthened  and  their  tinderfl:and- 
ing  enlarged  by  active  exertions,   there   is  little 
reafon   to  exped:  that  modefl:y  will  take  place  of 
bafhfulnefs.     They  may  find  it  prudent  to  aflume 
its  femblance  j  but  the  fair  veil  will  only  be  worri 
on  gala  days. 

Perhaps    there  is   not   a  virtue  that  rtlixes   fo 
kindly   with  every  other  as  modefty. — It  is  the 
pale   moon-beam    that  renders  more  interefl:ing 
every  virtue    it  foftens,   giving  mild  grandeur  to 
the   contracted  horizon.     Nothing  can  be  more 
beautiful  than  the  poetical  fidtion,  which  makes 
Diana   with  her  filver  crefcent,   the   gdddefs   of 
chaftity.     I  have  fometimes  thought,   that  wan- 
dering with  fedate  ftep  in  fome  lonely  recefs,  a 
modeft   dame  of  antiquity  mufl:  have  felt  a  glow 
ofconfcious  dignity  when,   after  contemplating 
the  foft  fliadowy  landfcape,    ibe  has  ifivited  with 
placid   fervour  the  mild  rcfledlion  of  her  fifters 
beams  to  turn  to  her  chafl:e  bofora. 


228        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

A  Chrifl-ian  has  jftill  nobler  motives  to  Incite 
her  to  preferve  her  chaflity  and  acquire  modefty, 
for  her  body  has  been  called  the  Temple  of  the 
living  God  ;  of  that  God  who  requires  more 
than  modefty  of  mien.  His  eye  fearcheth  the 
heart  j  and  let  her  remember,  that  if  Ihe  hopeth 
to  find  favour  in  the  fight  of  purity  itfelf,  her 
challity  muft  be  founded  on  modefty  and  not  on 
worldly  prudence ;  or  verily  a  good  reputation 
will  be  her  only  reward  ;  for  that  awful  inter- 
courfe,  that  facred  communication,  which  virtue 
eftabiifhes  between  man  and  his  Maker,  muft 
give  rife  to  the  wifh  of  being  pure  as  he  is 
pure  ! 

After  the  foregoing  remarks,  it  is  almoft  fu- 
perfluous  to  add,  that  I  confider  all  thofe  femi- 
nine airs  of  maturity,  which  fucceed  balhfulnefs, 
to  which  truth  is  facrificed,  to  fecure  the  heart  of 
a  huiband,  or  rather  to  force  him  to  be  fi:ill  a 
lover  when  nature  would,  had  Ihe  not  been  in- 
terrupted in  her  operations,  have  made  love  give 
place  to  friendfhip,  as  immodeft.  The  tender- 
nefs  which  a  man  will  feel  for  the  mother  of  his 
children  is  an  excellent  fubftitute  for  the  ardour 
of  unfatisfied  pafilon  -,  but  to  prolong  that  ardour 
It  is  indelicate,  not  to  fay  immodeil,  for  women 
to  feign  an  unnatural  coldnefs  of  confiiitution. 
Women  as  well  as  men  ought  to  have  the  com- 
mon appetites  and  pafiions  of  their  nature,  they 
are  only  brutal  when  unchecked  by  reafon  :  but 
the  obligation  to  check  them  is  the  duty  of  man-* 
kind,  not  a  fcxual  duty.  Nature,  in  thefe  re- 
fpedts,  may  fafely  be  left  to  hcrfelf ;  let  women 
only  acquire  knowledge  and  humanity,   and  love 

will 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  229 

will  teach  them  modefty*.  There  is  no  need  of 
falfehoods,  difgufting  as  futile,  for  fludied  rules 
of  behaviour  only  impbfe  on  fhallow  obfervers  ; 
a  man  of  fenfe  foon  fees  through,  and  defpifes  the 
affedation.  *    '^^ 

The  behaviour  of  young  people,  to  each  other, 
as  men  and  women,  is  the  laft  thing  that  fliould 
be  thoueht  of  in  education.  In  fad:,  behaviour 
in  mofl:  circumftances  is  now  fo  much  thought 
of,  that  fimplicity  of  charadter  is  rarely  to  be 
feen  :  yet,  if  men  were  only  anxious  to  cultivate 
each  virtue,  and  let  it  take  root  firmly  in  the 
mind,  the  grace  refulting  from  it,  its  natural  cx- 
teriour  mark,  would  foon  ftrip  affeiflation  of  its 
flaunting  plumes  ;  becaufe,  fallacious  as  unfta- 
ble,  is  the  conduct  that  is  not  founded  upon  truth  ! 

Would  ye,  O  my  fifters,  really  poflefs  modefty, 
ye  muft  remember  that  the  poiTeffion  of  virtue, 
of  any  denomination,  is  incompatible  with  igno- 
rance and  vanity  !  ye  muft  acquire  that  fobernefs 
of  mind,  which  the  exercife  of  duties,  and  the 
purfuit  of  knowledge,  alone  infpire,  or  ye  will 
ftill  remain  in  a  doubtful  dependent  fituation, 
and  only  be  loved  whilft  ye  are  fair  !  The  down- 
caft  eye,  the  rofy  blufh,  the  retiring  grace,  are  all 
proper  in  their  feafon  3  but  modefty,  being  the 
child  of  reafon,  cannot  long  exift  with  the  fenfi- 
bility  that  is  not  tempered  by  refleftion.  Be- 
fides,  w^hen  love,  even  innocent  love,  is  the  whole 
employ  of  your  lives,  your  hearts  will  be  too  foft 
to  afford  modefty  that  tranquil  retreat,  where  ftie 
delights  to  dwell,  in  clofe  union  with  humanity. 
P3  CHAP. 

•  The  behaviour  of  nnny  newly  manied  women  has  often  difgufted 
rsie.  They  fcem  anxious  never  to  let  their  hulbands  forget  ilic  privilege 
of  mtirriage  ;  and  to  find  no  jileafure  in  his  focicly  unlefs  he  is  ailing  the 
lov.r.  Short,  indeed,  muft  be  the  reign  of  love,  when  the  flaine  is  thus 
gonllantly  blcvn  up,  wiihout  its  receiving  p.ny  folid  fuel  ! 


239         VINDICATION  OF  THE 


CHAP,     VIII. 

MORALITY  UNDERMINED  BY  SEXUAL  NO-. 
TIONS  OF  THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  A  GOOD 
REPUTATION. 

xT  has  long  fince  occurred  to  nic  that  advice 
refpe^ling  behaviour,  and  all  the  various  modes 
of  preferving  a  good  reputation,  which  have  been 
fo  {Irenuoufly  inculcated  on  the  female  world, 
were  fpecious  poifons,  that  incrufting  morality 
eat  away  the  fubftance.  And,  that  this  meafur- 
ing  of  fliadows  produced  a  falfe  calculation,  be- 
caufe  their  length  depends  fo  much  on  the  height 
of  the  fun,  and  other  adventitious  circumflances. 

From  whence  arifes  the  eafy  fallacious  behav- 
iour of  a  courtier  ?  From  his  fituation,  undoubt- 
edly :  for  ftanding  in  need  of  dependents,  he  is 
obliged  to  learn  the  art  of  denying  without  giv- 
ing offence,  and,  of  evafively  feeding  hope  with 
the  chameleon's  food  :  thus  does  politenefs  fport 
with  truth,  and  eating  away  the  lincerity  and  hu- 
manity natural  to  man,  produce  the  fine  gentle- 
man. 

Vv^omen  in  the  fame  way  acquire,  from  a  fup- 
pofed  neceffity,  an  equally  artificial  mode  of  be- 
haviour. Yet  truth  is  not  with  impunity  to  be 
fported  with,  for  the  pradifed  dilTembler,  at  laft, 
become  the  dupe  of  his  own  arts,  lofe§  that  faga- 
city,  which  has  been  juilly  termed  copimor\ 
fenfc  ;  namely,  a  quick  perception  of  common 
truths  :  which  are  conllantly  received  ns  fuch  by 

the" 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN. 


231 


the  iinfophlfticated  mind,  though  it  might  not 
have  had  fufficient  energy  to  difcover  them  itfelf, 
when  obfciired  by  local  prejudices.  The  greater 
number  of  people  take  their  opinions  on  truft  to 
avoid  the  trouble  of  exerciling  their  own  minds, 
and  thefe  indolent  beings  naturally  adhere  to  the 
letter,  rather  than  the  fpirit  of  a  law,  divine  or 
human.  *  Women,'  fays  fome  author,  I  cannot 
recoiled:  who,  *  mind  not  what  only  heaven  fees.* 
Why,  indeed  fhould  they  ?  it  is  the  eye  of  man 
that  they  have  been  taught  to  dread — and  if  they 
can  lull  their  Argus  to  fleep,  they  feldom  think 
of  heaven  or  themfelves,  becaufe  their  reputation 
is  fafe  ;  and  it  is  reputation,  not  chaftity  and  all 
its  fair  train,  that  they  are  employed  to  keep  free 
from  fpot,  not  as  a  virtue,  but  to  preferve  their 
ftation  in  th^  world. 

To  prove  the  truth  of  this  remark,  I  need  on- 
ly advert  to  the  intrigues  of  married  women,  par- 
ticularly in  high  life,  and  in  countries  where  wo- 
men are  fuitably  married,  according  to  their  re- 
fpecflive  ranks,  by  their  parents.  If  an  innocent 
girl  become  a  prey  to  love,  Ihe  is  degraded  for- 
ever, though  her  mind  was  not  polluted  by  the 
arts  which  married  women,  under  the  convenient 
cloke  of  marriage,  pradlife  ;  nor  has  fhe  violated 
any  duty — but  the  duty  of  refpe6ting  herfelf.  The 
married  woman,  on  the  contrary,  breaks  a  mofl 
facred  engagement,  and  becomes  a  cruel  mother 
when  (he  is  a  falfe  and  faithlefs  wife.  If  her 
hufband  has  ftill  an  affedlion  for  her,  the  arts 
which  fhe  mull:  pradtife  to  deceive  him,  will  ren- 
der her  the  moft  contemptible  of  human  beings  ; 
and,  at  any  rate,  the  contrivances  neceffary  to  pre- 

P  4  fcrve 


aj^        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

ftrve  appearances,  will  keep  her  mind  in  that 
childilli,  or  vicious,  tumult,  which  deftroys    all 
its  energy,     Befides,  in  time,  like   thofe    people 
\yho  habitually  take  cordials  to  raife  their  Ipirits, 
fh^  Wfll   want   an   intrigue  to  give  life  to  her 
thoughts,  having  loft  all  relifh  for  pleafures  that 
are  not  highly  feafoned  by  hope  or  fear. 
.  Sometimes  married  women  zQ.  ftill  more  au- 
dacioully  3  I  will  mention  an  inftance. 
.  A  woman  of  quality,  notorious  for  her  gal- 
lantries, though  .^s  ilie  ftill  lived  with  her  huf- 
band,   nobody   chpfe  to   place   her   in  the  clafs 
\yhefe   ftie  ought  to  have  been  placed,  made  a 
point  of  treating  with  the  moft  infulting  con-, 
tempt  a  poor  timid  creature,   abaftied  by  a  fenfe: 
of  her  former  weaknefs,  whom  a  neighbouring 
gentleman  had   feduced   and  afterwards  married.:- 
This  v^^oman  had  actually  confounded  virtue  with 
reputation  ;  and,  I  do  believe,  valued  herfelf  on 
the   propriety  of  he;r  behaviour  before  marriage,- 
though  when   orice  fettled,    to  the  fatisfadion  of 
her  family,  ftie  and  her  lord  were  equally  faith- 
lefs, — fo  that   the   half  alive  heir  to  an  immenfc, 
eftate,  came  from  heaven  knows  where  ! 

To  view  this  fubje6l  in  another  light. 

I  have  known  a  number  of  women  who,  if 
they  did  not  love  their  hufbands,  loved  nobody 
elfe,  give  themfelves  entirely  up  to  vanity  and 
diffipation,  neglecting  every  domeftic  duty  ;  nay, 
even  fquandering  away  all  the  money  which 
fhould  have  been  faved  for  their  helplefs  younger 
children,  yet  have  plumed  themfelves  on  their  un- 
fullied  reputation,  as  if  the  whole  compafs  of 
their  duty  as  wives  and  mothers  was  only  to  pre- 

ferve 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  233 

fervc  it.  .  "WhilH:  other  indolent  women  neglect- 
ing every  perlbnal  duty,  have  thought  that  they 
deferved  their  hulband's  afFedlion,  becaufe  they 
afked,  in  this  refpe6t  with  propriety. 

Weak  minds  are  always  fond  of  refti ng  in  the 
ceremonials  of  duty,  but  morality  offers  much 
fimpler  motives  ;  and  it  were  to  be  wii?ied  that 
fuperficial  moraiifts  had  faid  lefs  refpeding  be-, 
haviour,  and  outward  obfervances,  for  unlels  vir- 
tue, of  any  kind,  is  built  on  knowledge,  it  wiii 
only  produce  a  kind  of  iniipid  decency.  Refped: 
for  the  opinion  of  the  world,  has,  hovv'-cver,  been 
termed  the  principal  duty  of  woman  in  the  moil 
cxprefs  words,  for  RoulTcau  declares,  *  that  repu- 

*  tation  is  no  iefs  indifpenfable  than  chafcity.'  *^  A 

*  man,'  adds  he,    *fecure  in  his  own  good  con- 

*  dud:,  depends  only  on  himfeif,  and  may  brave 

*  the  public  opinion  ;  but  a  woman,  in  behavini* 

*  well,    performs   but  half  her  duty  ;    as  what  is 

*  thought  of  her,  is  as  important  to  her  as   what 

*  fhe  really  is.     It  follows  hence,  that  the  lyfceni 

*  of  a  woman's  education  fhould,  in  this  refpecl, 
^'  be  directly  contrary  to  that  of  ours.     Opinion 

*  is  the  grave  of  virtue  among  the  men  j  but  its 
^  throne  among  women.'  It  is  fbridly  logical  to 
infer  that  the  virtue  that  refls  on  opinion  is  mere- 
ly worldly,  and  that  it  is  the  virtue  of  a  being  to 
whom  reafon  has  been  denied.  But,  even  with 
refpedt  to  the  opinion  of  the  world,  I  am  con- 
vinced that  this  clafs  of  reafoncrs  are  miftaken. 

This  regard  for  reputation,  independent  of  its 
being  one  of  the  natural  rewards  of  virtue,  how- 
ever, took  its  rife  from  a  caufe  that  I  liavc  already 
deplored  as  the  grand  fource  of  female  depravity, 

the 


234        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

the  impoffibility  of  regaining  refped:ability  by  a 
return  to  virtue,  though  men  prcferve  theirs  dur- 
ing the  indulgence  of  vice.  It  was  natural  for 
women  then  to  endeavour  to  preferve  what  once 
loft — was  loft  for  ever,  till  this  care  fwallowing 
up  every  other  care,  reputation  for  chaftity,  be- 
came the  one  thing  needful  to  the  Tex.  But  vain 
IS  the  fcrupulofity  of  ignorance,  for  neither  reli- 
gion nor  virtue,  when  they  refide  in  the  heart, 
require  fuch  a  puerile  attention  to  mere  ceremo- 
nies, bccaufe  the  behaviour  muft,  upon  the  whole, 
be  proper,  when  the  motive  is  pure. 

To  fupport  my  opinion  I  can  produce  very  re- 
fpe<fLable  authority  ;  and  the  authority  of  a  cool 
reaPjner  ou2;ht  to  have  weieht  to  enforce  conli- 
deration,  though  not  to  eftablifti  a  fentiment. 
Speaking  of  the  general  laws  of  morality,  Dr, 
Smith  obferves, — *  That  by  fome  very  extraordi- 

*  nary  and   unlucky  circumftance,   a   good    man 

*  may  come  to  be  i'ufpesfted  of  a  crime  of  which 

*  he  v/as  altogether  incapable,  and  upon  that  ac- 

*  count  be  moft  unjuftly  expof:d  for  the  remain- 

*  ing  part  of  his  life  to  the  horror  and  averfion  of 
*•  mankind.     By  an  accident  of  this  kind  he  may 

*  be  faid  to  lofe  his  all,  notwi^ftanding  his  ^n- 
"  tegrity  and  juftice,    in  the  fame    manner   as  a 

*  cautious  man,  notwithftanding  his  utmoft  cir- 

*  cumfpe(5tion,  may  be  ruined   by    an  earthquake 

*  or  an  inundation.     Accidents  of  the  firft  kind, 

*  hov/evcr,  are  perhaps   ftill  more  rare,   and  ftili 

*  more  contrary  to  the  common  courfe  of  things 

*  than  thofe  of  the  fecond  •    and    it  ftill  remains 

*  true,  that  the  pra(51:ice  of  truth,  juftice,  and  hu- 

*  manity,  is  a  certain  and  almoft  iniallible  methqd 

*oC 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMx\N".  235 

^  of  acquiring  what  thofe  virtues  chiefly  aim  at, 

*  the   confidence  and  love  of  thofe  we  live  v/ith. 

*  A  perfon  may  be  eafily  mifreprefented  with  re- 

*  gard  to  a  particular  adion  ;   but  it  is  fcarcely 

*  poffible  that  he  fhould  be  fo  with  regard  to  the 
'  general  tenor  of  his  condu(5t.    An  innocent  man 

*  may  be   believed  to   have   done  wrong  :  this, 

*  however,  will  rarely  happen.     On  the  contra- 

*  ry,   the  eftablifhed  opinion  of  the  innocence  of 

*  his  manners  will   often  lead  us  to  abfolve  him 

*  where  he  has  really  been  in  the  fault,  notwith- 

*  ftanding  very  ftrong  prefumptions.' 

I  perfectly  coincide  in  opinion  with  this  wri- 
ter, for  I  verily  believe  that  few  of  either  fex 
were  ever  defpifed  for  certain  vices  without  de- 
fer ving  to  be  defpifed.  I  fpeak  not  of  the  ca- 
lumny of  the  moment,  which  hangs  over  a  cha- 
ra6ter,  like  one  of  the  denfe  fogs  of  November, 
over  this  metropolis,  till  it  gradually  fublides 
before  the  common  light  of  day,  I  only  con- 
tend that  the  daily  conduct  of  the  majority  pre- 
vails to  {lamp  their  charadter  with  the  imprefTioii 
of  truth.  Quietly  does  the  clear  light,  fliining 
day  after  day,  refute  the  ignorant  furmife,  or  ma- 
licious tale,  which  has  thrown  dirt  on  a  pure 
charad:er.  A  falfe  light  diflorted,  for  a  fliort 
time,  its  fhadow — reputation  ;  but  it  feldom  fails 
to  become  juft  when  the  cloud  is  difperfed  that 
produced  the  miflake  in  vilion. 

Many  people,  undoubtedly,  in  feveral  refpeds 
obtain  a  better  reputation  than,  flriftly  fpeaking, 
they  dcferve  ;  for  unremitting  indudry  will  moft- 
ly  reach  its  goal  in  all  races.  They  who  only 
fl;rive   for    this  paltry  priz?,    like  tlie  Pharifees, 

wliQ 


2S6        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

"V^ho  prayed  at  the  corners  of  ftreets,  to  be  feen  of 
rAen,  verily  obtain  the  reward  they  feek  ;  for  the 
keart  of  man  cannot  be  read  by  man  !  Still  the 
fair  fame  that  is  naturally  reflected  by  good  ac- 
tibns,  when  the  man  is  only  employed  to  diredl 
his  fteps  aright,  regardlefs  of  the  lookers-on,  is, 
in  general,  not  only  more  true,  but  more  fare. 

There  are,  it  is  true,  trials  when  the  good  man 
mud  appeal  to  God  from  the  injuftice  of  man  ; 
and  amidft  the  whining  candour  or  hiflings  of 
envy,  eredl  a  pavilion  in  his  own  mind  to  retire 
to  till  the  rumour  be  overpaft  ,•  nay,  the  darts  of 
imdeferved  cenfure  may  pierce  an  innocent  ten- 
der bofom  through  with  many  forrows  ';  but 
thefc  are  all  exceptions  to  2:eneral  rules.  And  it 
is  accordincr  to  thefe  common  laws  that  human 
behaviour  ous-ht  to  be  reo^ulated.     The  eccentric 

o  o  ^ 

orbit  of  the  comet  never  influences  agronomical 
calculations  refpe<fting  the  invariable  order  eftub- 
liihed  in  the  motion  of  the  principal  bodies  of  the 
folar  fyftem. 

I  will  then  venture  to  affirm,  that  after  a  man 
IS  arrived  at  maturity,  the  general  outline  of  his 
chara6ter  in  the  world  is  juft,  allowing  for  the 
before-mentioned  exceptions  to  the  rule.  I  do  not 
{j.y  that  a  prudent,  worldly-wife  man,  with  only 
negative  virtues  and  qualities,  may  not  fomelimes 
obtain  a  more  fmaoth  reputation  than  a  wifer  or  a 
better  man.  So  far  from  it,  that  I  am  apt  to 
conclude  from  experience,  that  where  the  virtue 
of  two  people  is  nearly  equal,  the  moft  negative 
character  will  be  liked  beft  bv  the  world  at  lars:e, 
whiiil:  the  other  may  have  more  friends  in  pri- 
vate life.     But   the   hills  and  dales,  clouds  and- 

funilnncj^ 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  237 

fundiine,  confpicuous  in  the  virtues  of  great  men, 
fet  off  each  other  ;  and  though  they  afford  envi- 
ous weaknefs  a  fairer  mark  to  (hoot  at,  the  real 
character  will  ftill  work  its  way  to  light,  though  be- 
foatteied  by  weak  affedlion,  or  ingenious  malice*. 
With  refpe(^  to  that  anxiety  to  preferve  a  re- 
putation hardly  earned,  which  leads  fagacious  peo- 
ple to  analyze  it,  I  fliall  not  make  the  obvious 
comment  ;  but  T  am  afraid  that  morality  is  very 
infidiouily  undermined,  in  the  female  world,  by 
the  attention  being  turned  to  the  fhew  inftead  of 
the  fubftance.  A  fimple  thing  is  thus  made 
ftrangely  complicated  ;  nay,  fometimes  virtue 
and  its  fhadow  are  fet  at  variance.  We  fhould 
never,  perhaps,  have  heard  of  Lucretia,  had  fhe 
died  to  preferve  her  chaftity  inftead  of  her  repu- 
t?.tion.  If  we  really  deferve  our  own  good  opin- 
ion we  (liall  commonly  be  refpeded  in  the  world  > 
but  if  we  pant  after  higher  improvement  and 
liigher  attainments,  it  is-  not  fufficient  to  viev/ 
ourfelves  as  we  fuppofe  that  we  are  viewed  by- 
others,  though  this  has  been  ingenioufly  argued, 
as  the  foundation  of  our  moral  fentiments-f*.  Be- 
caufe  each  by-flander  mayhavehis  own  prejudices, 
befide  the  prejudices  of  his  age  or  country.  We 
fliould  rather  endeavour  to  view  ourfelves  as  wd 
fuppofe  that  Being  views  us  who  feeth  each 
thought  ripen  into  aftion,  and  whofe  judgment 
never  fwerves  from  the  eternal  rule  of  ri-^ht/ 
Righteous  are  all  his  judgments — jufl  as  merci-^ 
ful  !  The  ' 


•  I  allude  to  various  biographical  writings,  but  particularly  toBofwcU's' 
Life  of  Johnfon,  '     .  L\ 

f  Smith, 


238        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

The  humble  mind  that  feeketh  to  find  favOdf 
in  His  light,  and  calmly  examines    its    condudt 
when  only  His  prefence  is  felt,  will  feldom  form 
a  very   erroneous    opinion    of  its    own    virtues. 
During  the  flill  hour  of  felf-colledtion  the  angry 
brow  of  offended  juftice  will  be  fearfully  depre- 
cated,  or  the  tie  which  draws  man  to  the  Deity 
will  be  recognized  in  the  pure  fentiment  of  reve- 
rential adoration,  that  fwells    the   heart  without 
exciting  any  tumultuous  emotions.     In  thefe  fo- 
lemn  moments  man  difcovers  the  germ  of  thofe 
^ices,  which  like  the  Java  tree  Ihed  a  pefliferous 
vapour  around — death  is   in  the    fliade  !   and  he 
perceives   them  without  abhorrence,  becaufe  he 
feels  himfelf  drawn  by  fome  cord  of  love  to  all 
his  fellow-creatures,  for  whofe  follies  he  is  anx- 
ious to  find  every  extenuation  in   their  nature-— 
in  himfelf.     If  I,  he  may  thus  argue,  who  exer- 
cife  my  own  mind,  and  have  been  refined  by  tri- 
bulation, find  the  ferpent's  tgg  in   fome  fold   of 
.my  heart,  and  crufh  it  with  difficulty,  fhall  not  I 
pity  thofe  who  have  flamped  with  lefs  vigour,  or 
who  have  heedlefsly  nurtured  the  infidious  reptile 
till  it  poifoned  the  vital  flream  it  fucked  ?   Can  I^ 
confcious  of  m>y  fecret  fms,  throw  off  my  fellow- 
creatures,  and  calmly  fee  them  drop  into  the  chafm 
of  perdition,  that  yawns  to  receive  them. — No  ! 
no  !  The  agonized  heart  will  cry  with  fuftocating 
impatience — I  too  am  a  man !  and  have  vices,  hid, 
perhaps,  from  human  eye,  that  bend  me  to  the 
dull  before  God,  and  loudly  tell  me,  when  all  is 
mute,  that  we  are  formed  of  the  fame  earth,  and 
breathe  the  fame  element.     Humanity  thus  rifes 
naturally  out  of  humility,  andtwifVs  tlic  cords  of 

love 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  239 

love  that  in  various  convolutions  entangle  the 
heart. 

This  fympathy  extends  flill  farther,  till  a  man 
well  pleafed  obferves  force  in  arguments  that  do' 
not  carry  convid:ion  to  his  own  bofom,  and  he 
gladly  places  in  the  faireft  light,  to  himfelf,  the 
ihews  of  reafon  that  have  led  others  aftray, 
rejoiced  to  find  fome  reafon  in  all  the  errors  of 
man  ;  though  before  convinced  that  he  who 
rules  the  day  makes  his  fun  to  (l:iine  on  all.  Yet, 
ihaking  hands  thus  as  it  were  with  corruption, 
one  foot  on  earth,  the  other  with  bold  ilride 
mounts  to  heaven,  and  claims  kindred  with  fupe- 
riour  natures.  Virtues,  unobferved  by  man,  drop 
their  balmy  fragrance  at  this  cool  hour,  and  the 
thirfty  land,  refredied  by  the  pure  flreams  of 
comfort  that  fuddcnly  gufh  out,  is  crowned  with 
fmiling  verdure ;  this  is  the  living  green,  on  which 
that  eye  may  look  with  complacency  that  is  too 
pure  to  behold  iniquity  ! 

But  my  fpirits  flag  ;  and  I  m^uft  filently  in- 
dulge the  reverie  thefe  reficd:ions  lead  to,  unable 
to  defcribe  the  fentim^ents,  that  have  calmed  my 
foul,  when  watching  the  ridng  fun,  a  foft  {bow- 
er drizzling  through  the  leaves  of  nsighbourinf^ 
trees,  feemed  to  fall  on  my  languid,  yet  tranqui\ 
ipirits,  to  cool  the  heart  that  had  hetn  heated  by 
the  paiTions  which  reafon  laboured  to  tam.e. 

The  leading  principles  which  run  through  all 
my  difquifitions,  would  render  it  unneceflary  to 
enlarge  on  this  fubjedt,  if  a  confiant  attention  to 
keep  the  varnidi  of  the  chara6ter  frefli,  and  ia 
good  condition,  were  not  often  inculcated  as  the 
fum  total   of  female  duty  j  if  rules  to   regulate 

"  the 


240        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

the  behaviour,  and  to  preferve  the  reputation,  6'id 
not  too  frequently  fuperfede  moral  obligations. 
But,  with  relpedl  to  reputation,  the  attention  is 
confined  to  a  lingle  virtue — chaftity*  If  the 
honour  of  a  woman,  as  it  is  abfurdly  called,  is 
iafe,  {lie  may  neglect  every  focial  duty  ;  nay,  ruin 
her  family  by  gaming  and  extravagance  -,  yet  Hill 
prefent  a  fliamelefs  front — for  truly  fhe  is  an  hon- 
ourable v/oman  ! 

Mrs.  Macaulay  has  juftly  obferved,  that  *  there 

•  is  but  one  fault  which  a  wcman  of  honour  may 

•  not  commit  with  impunity.'  She  then  juftly, 
and  humanely  adds — *  This  has  given  rife  to  the 

•  trite  and  foolifli  obfervation,  that  the  firft  fault 

*  againfl   chaftity  in  woman  has  a  radical  power 

*  to  deprave  the  charadier.     But  no  fuch  frail  be- 

•  ings  come  out  of  the  hands  of  nature.  The 
'  human  mind  is  built  of  nobler  materials  than 

*  to  be  fo  eafily  corrupted  ;  and  with  all  their 
'  difadvantages  of  fituation  and  education,  womerw 

•  feldom  become  entirely  abandoned  till   they  are 

*  thrown  into  a  fcatc  of  defpcration,  by  the  ven- 

*  omous  rancour  of  their  own  fex.' 

But,  in  proportion  as  this  regard  for  the  repu- 
tation of  chaftity  is  prized  by  women,  it  is  de- 
fpifed  by  men  :  and  the  two  extremes  are  equally 
deftruftive  to  morality. 

Men  are  certainly  more  under  the  influence  of 
their  appetites  than  women  ;  and  their  appetites 
are  more  depraved  by  unbridled  indulgence  and 
the  faftidious  contrivances  of  fatiety.  Luxury 
has  introduced  a  refinement  in  eating,  that  de- 
flroys  the  conflitution  -,  and  a  degree  of  gluttony 
whidi  is  fo  beaftly,   that  a  perception  of  feemli- 

nef^ 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN;  241 

nefs  of  behaviour  mufl  be  wovn  out  before  one 
being  could  eat  immoderately  in  the  prefencecf 
another,  and  afterwards  complain  of  the  opprdX- 
fioti  that  his  intemperance  naturally  produced. 
S^ome  women,  particularly  French  women,  have 
alfo  loH:  a  fenle  of  decency  in  this  refpedl ;  for 
th^y  will  talk  very  calmly  of  an  indigeftion.  It 
W^ere  to  be  widied  that  idlcnefs  was  not  allowed 
to  generate,  on  the  rank  foil  of  v/eaith,  thofe 
fwarms  of  iummcr  infcvfts  that  feed  on  putrefac- 
tion, v/t  fhould  not  then  be  difgufled  by  the  fight 
of  fiich  brutal  excefles. 

There  is  one  rule  relative  to  behaviour  that,  I 
think,  ought  to  regulate  every  other  •  and  it  is 
•limply  to  cheriili  fuch  an  habitual  refped:  for 
mankind  as  may  prevent  us  from  difgufting  a 
fellow-creature  for  the  fake  of  a  prefent  indulg- 
ence. The  fliameful  indolence  of  many  married 
women,  and  others  a  little  advanced  in  life,  fre- 
quently leads  them  to  fin  againft  delicacy.  For, 
though  convinced  that  the  perfon  is  the  band  of 
union  between  the  fexcs,  yet,  how  often  do  they 
from  (heer  indolence,  or,  to  enjoy  fome  trifling 
indulgence,  difgufi:  ? 

The  depravity  of  the  appetite  which  brings 
the  fexes  together,  has  had  a  ftill  more  fatal  ef- 
fedii  Nature  muft  ever  ht  the  ftandard  of  tafte, 
the  guage  of  appetite — yet  how  grofsly  is  nature 
infulted  by  the  voluptuary.  Leaving  the  refine- 
ments of  love  out  of  the  queftion  ;  nature,  by 
making  the  gratification  of  an  appetite,,  in  this 
refped,  as  well  as  every  other,  a  natural  a:nd 
imperious  law  to  preferve  the  fpecics,  exalts  the 
appetite,  and  mixes  a  little  mind  and  affection 
Q^  with 


242         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

with  a  fcnfual  guft.  The  feelings  of  a  parenr 
mingling  with  an  inflind:  merely  animal,  give  it 
dignity  ;  and  the  man  and  woman  often  meeting 
on  account  of  the  child,  a  mutual  interell  and  af- 
fection is  excited  by  the  exercife  of  a  common 
fympathy.  Women  then  having  necefiarily  fome 
duty  to  fulfil,  more  noble  than  to  adorn  their  per- 
fons,  would  not  contentedly  be  the  flaves  of  ca- 
fual  appetite  j  which  is  now  the  fituation  of  a 
very  confiderable  number  who  are,  literally 
fpeaking,  ftanding  diflies  to  which  every  glutton 
may  have  acccfs. 

I  may  be  told  that  great  as  this  enormity  is,  it 
only  a&dts  a  devoted  part  of  the  fex — devoted 
for  the  falvation  of  the  reft.  But,  falfe  as  every 
alTertion  might  eafily  be  proved,  that  recommends 
the  fancftioning  a  fmall  evil  to  produce  a  greater 
good  i  the  mifchief  does  not  flop  here,  for  the 
moral  charadlery  and  peace  of  mind,  of  the  chall- 
er  part  of  the  fex,  is  undermined  by  the  condud; 
of  the  very  women  to  whom  they  allow  no  re- 
fuge from  guilt  :  whom  they  inexorably  confign 
to  the  exercife  of  arts  that  lure  their  hufbands 
from  them,  debauch  their  fons,  and  force  them, 
let  not  modeft  women  ftart,  to  aflume,  in  fome 
degree,  the  fame  character  themfelves.  For  I 
will  venture  to  affert,  that  all  the  caufcs  of  fe- 
male weaknefs,  as  well  as  depravity,  which  I  have 
already  enlarged  on,  branch  out  o-f  one  grand 
caufe — want  of  chaflity  in  men. 

This  intemperance,  fo  prevalent,  depraves  the 
appetite  to  fuch  a  degree,  that  a  wanton  ftimu- 
lus  is  ncceflary  to  roufe  it  ;  but  the  parental  de- 
fign  of  nature  is  forgotten,  and  the  mere  perfon,. 

and 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  243 

and  that  for  a  mom(^nt,  alone  en^rolTes  the 
thoughts.  So  voluptuous,  indeed,  often  grows 
the  iuflful  prowler,  that  he  refines  on  female 
foftnefs.  Something  more  foft  than  v/oman  is 
then  fought  for  ;  till,  in  Italy  and  Portugal,  men. 
attend  the  levees  of  equivocal  beings,  to  figh  for 
more  than  female  langour.  ;  , 

To  fatisfy  this  genus  of  mert,  vvonien  are  made 
fyftematically  voluptuous,  and  though  they  may. 
not  all  carry  their  libertinifm  to  the  fame  height,; 
yet  this  heartlefs  intercourfc  with  the  fex,  which; 
they  allow  themfelves,    depraves  both  fexes,  be- 
caufe  the  tafte  of  men  is  vitiated  ;   and  yvomQii',' 
of  all  clafTes,    naturally  fquare  their  behaviour  to 
gratify  the  tafle  by  which  they   obtain    pleafure 
and  power.     Women    becoming,  .confequentl\%'{; 
weaker,    in  mind  and  body,  tlian  -they  ought  {Qf\ 
be,    were  one  of  the  grand  ends  of  their  being: 
taken  into  the  accoun-t,  that  of  bearing  and  nurf-. 
ing  children,  have  not  fufficient  flrength  to  dif- 
charge  the  firft  duty  of  a  mother  3  and  facrificing 
to  lafcivioufnefs  the  parental  affciftion,  that  enno^ 
bles  inftindt,    either  deftroy  the   embryo   in  the 
Xvomb,  or  cafl  it  off  when  born .    Nature  in  every 
thing  demands  refped:^  and  thofe  who  violate  her. 
laws  feldom  violate  them  with  impunity.     The 
weak   enervated   women   who  particularly  catch 
the  attention  of  libertines,  are  unfit  to  be  moth- 
ers j  though  they  may  conceive  -,  fo  that  the  rich 
fenfualift,  who  has  rioted  among  women ^  fpread- 
ing  depravity  and  mifery,  when  he  wiihes  to  per- 
petuate his  name,  receives  from  his  wife  only  an 
half-formed  being  that  inherits  both  its  father'* 
and  mother's  weaknefs. 

0^2  Contralting 


244        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

Contrafting  the  humanity  of   the  prcfent  age 
with  the  barbarifm  of  antiquity,  great  flrefs  has 
been  kid  on  the  favage  cuflom   of-  ejcpofihg    the 
children  whom   their  parents  could  hot   maitiuf 
tain  5  whihl  the  man  of  fenfibility,   v/ho    thu^J^* 
perhaps,  complains,  by  his  promifcuouS'  iin^ours  • 
produces  a  moil:  deflru^tivc  bafrehnefs  and  con-" 
tagious  flagitioufnefs  of  manners.     Surely  nature 
never  intended  that  women,  by  latisfying  an  ap- 
petite, Hiould  frurtrate  the  very  purpofe for  which" 
it  was  implanted  !  ..._.•,.  ''i  i\  ■  r.;:  r.  / 

I  have  before  obferved,   tha't^Tften  ought  to- 
maintain  the  women  whom  they  have   feducedv 
this 'i  would- be  one  means  of  refot-ming;   female 
mannefs,  and  topping  an  abufe  that  has  an  eqifel- . 
ly  fatal  effedl  on  population  and   morals.     M\- 
other,  no  lefs  obvious,  wdiild  be  to  iwpn  the  'at-' 
tention  of  woman  to  the  real  virtoe  of  chaftity'^- 
for  to  little  refpe<!l:  has  that  'v^'Dftian  a  claim>  on^ 
the  fcore  of  modefly,  though 'her  reputation  may 
be  white  as  the  driven  fno\V',  v/ho  fmiles  on    the 
libertine  whilft  ik&  fpurns  the  victims  of  his  law-^ 
lefs  appetites  and  their  own  folly.  '  '• 

Beiides,  (lie  has  a  taint  of  the  fame  folly,  pure 
as  fhe  e/leems  herfelf,  when  ilie  ftudiou fly  adorns* 
her  perfOn  only  to  be  feen  by  men,  to  excite  re- 
fpediful  fighs,  and  all  the  idle  homage  of  what 
is  called  innocent  gallantry.  Did  women  really 
refped  virtue  for  its  own  fake,  they  would  not 
feek  for  a  compenfation  in  vanity,  for  the  felf- 
denial  which  they  arc  obliged  to  pradtife  to  pre- 
ferve  their  reputation,  nor  would  they  alTociate 
with  men  who  fct  reputation  at  defiance. 

The 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN,  245 

The  two  fexes  mutually  corrupt  and  improve 
each  other.  This  I  believe  to  be  an  indifputa- 
]-)le  truth,  extending  it  to  every  virtue.  Chafti- 
tyy  modefty,  public  fpirit,  and  all  the  noble  train 
of  virtues,  on  which  locial  virtue  and  happinefs 
is  built,  fliould  be  underftood  and  cultivated  by 
all  mankind,  or  they  will  be  cultivated  to  little 
eftect.  And,  inflead  of  furniihing  the  vicious  or 
idle  with  a  pretext  for  violating  fome  facred  du- 
ty, by  terming  it  a  fcxual  one,  it  would  be  wifcr 
to  fhew  that  nature  has  not  made  any  difference, 
for  that  the  unchafte  man  doubly  defeats  the  pur- 
pofe  of  nature,  by  rendering  women  barren,  apd 
deftroying  his  own  conftitution,  though  he  avoid? 
the  fhame  that  purfues  the  crime  in  the  other 
fex.  Thefe  are  the  phyfical  confequences,  the 
moral  are  ftill  more  alarming  ;  for  virtue  is  on- 
ly a  nominal  diflindion  when  the  duties  of  citi- 
zens, hufbands,  wives,  fathers,  mothers,  and  di- 
rectors of  families,  become  merely  the  felfifli  ties 
of  convenience. 

Why  then  do  philofophers  look  for  public 
fpirit  ?  Public  fpirit  muft  be  nutured  by  private 
virtue,  or  it  will  refemble  the  factitious  fentiment 
which  makes  women  careful  to  prefer ve  tbrir 
reputation,  and  men  their  honour,  A  fentiment 
that  often  exifts  unfupported  by  virtue,  unfup- 
ported  by  that  fublime  morality  which  makes  the 
habitual  breach  of  one  duty  a  breach  of  the  whole 
fUQr^llaw, 


CL3  C  H  A  P. 


2^6         VINDICATION  OF  THE 


C     H     A     P,     IX. 

OF  THE  PERNICIOUS  EFFECTS  WHICH   ARISE 
FROM     THE     UNNATURAL    DISTINCTIONS 
-■ESTABLISHED    IN     SOCIETY. 

Jr  ROM  the  refped  paid  to  property  flow,  as 
from  a  poifoned  fountain,  moft  of  the  evils  and 
vices  which  render  this  world  fuch  a  dreary  fcene 
to  the  contemplative  mind.  For  it  is  in  the  moft 
poliilied  fociety  that  noifomc  reptiles  and  venom- 
ous ferpents  lurk  under  the  rank  herbage  ;  and 
there  is  voluptuoufnefs  pampered  by  the  ftill  ful- 
try  air,  which  relaxes  every  good  difpofition  be- 
fore it  ripens  into  virtue. 

One  ciafs  preftes  on  another ;  for  all  are  aiming 
to  procure  refpetft  on  account  of  their  property  : 
and  property,  once  gained,  will  procure  the  re- 
fpe(ft  due  only  to  talents  and  virtue.  Men  neg- 
ledt  the  duties  incumbent  on  man,  yet  are  treat- 
ed like  demi-gods;  religion  is  alfo  feparated  from 
morality  by  a  ceremonial  veil,  yet  men  wonder 
that  the  world  Is  almoft,  literally  fpeaking,  a  den 
of  fliarpers  or  opprcfTors. 

There  is  a  homely  proverb,  which  fpeaks  a 
fli re wd  truth,  that  whoever  the  devil  finds  idle  he 
will  employ.  And  what  but  habitual  idlenefs 
can  hereditary  wealth  and  titles  produce  ?  For 
jnan  is  fo  conftituted  that  he  can  only  attain  a 
proper  ufe  of  his  faculties  by  exercifing  them, 
and  will  not  exercife  them  unlefs  neceftlty,  of 
foinc  kind,  firft  fet  the  v/heels  in  motion.  Vir- 
tue 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN. 


'M 


tue  likewife  can  only  be  acquired  by  the  difcharge 
of  relative  duties  ;  but  the  importance  of  thefe  fa- 
cred  duties  will  fcarcely  be  felt  by  the  being  who 
is  cajoled  out  of  his  humanity  by  the  flattery  of 
fycophants.  There  mufl  be  more  equality  eflab- 
lilhed  in  fociety,  or  morality  will  never  gain 
ground,  and  this  virtuous  equality  will  not  reft 
firmly  even  when  founded  on  a  rock,  if  one  half 
of  mankind  are  chained  to  its  bottom  by  fate,  for 
they  will  be  continually  undermining  it  through 
ignorance  or  pride. 

It  is  vain  to  exped  virtue  from  women  till 
they  are,  in  fome  degree,  independent  of  men  ; 
nay,  it  is  vain  to  exped:  that  ftrength  of  natural 
afFecftion,  which  would  make  them  good  wives 
and  mothers.  Whilft  they  are  abfolutely  de- 
pendent on  their  huflDands  they  will  be  cunning, 
mean,  and  felfifn,  and  the  men  who  can  be  grati- 
fied by  the  fawning  fondnefs  of  fpaniel-like  af- 
fection, have  not  much  delicacy,  for  love  is  not 
to  be  bought,  in  any  fenfe  of  the  words,  its  filken 
wings  are  inflantly  fhrivelled  up  when  any  thing 
befide  a  return  in  kind  is  fought.  Yet  whillt 
wealth  enervates  men  ;  and  women  live,  as  it 
were,  by  their  pcrfonal  charms,  how  can  we  ex- 
pert them  to  difcharge  thofe  ennobling  duties 
which  equally  require  exertion  and  felf-denial. 
Hereditary  property  fophiflicates  the  mind,  and 
the  unfortunate  viclims  to  it,  if  I  may  fo  ex- 
prefs  myfelf,  fwathed  from  their  birth,  feldom 
exert  the  locomotive  faculty  of  body  or  mind  ; 
and,  thus  viewing  every  thing  through  one  me- 
dium, and  that  a  falfe  one,  they  are  unable  to 
difcern  in  what  true  merit  and  happinefs  confift. 


248         VINDICATION  OP  THE 

Falfe,  indeed,  muft  be  the  light  when  the  dra- 
pery of  lituation  hides  the  man,  and  makes  him 
ilalk  in  mafquerade,  dragging  from  one  fcene  of 
dilTipation  to  another  the  nervelefs  limbs  that 
hang  with  ftupid  liftnelTnefs,  and  rolling  round 
the  vacant  eye  which  plainly  tells  us  that  there  is 
no  mind  at  home. 

I  mean,  therefore,  to  infer  that  the  fociety  is 
not  properly  organized  which  does  not  compel 
men  and  won;ien  tp  difchargc  their  refpccftive  du- 
ties, by  making  it  the  only  way  to  acquire  that 
countenance  from  their  fellow-creatures,  which 
every  human  being  willies  fome  way  to  attain. 
The  refpedt,  confequently,  which  is  paid  to 
■wealth  and  mere  perlbnal  charm.s,  is  a  true  north- 
eaft  blaft,  that  blights  the  tender  bloiToms  of  af- 
fection and  virtue.  Nature  has  wifely  attached 
iiffe(flions  to  duties,  to  fweeten  toil,  and  to  give 
that  vigour  to  the  exertions  of  reafon  which  only 
the  heart  can  give.  But,  t\\Q  affedion  which  is 
put  on  merely  becaufe  it  is  the  appropriated  infig- 
nia  of  a  certain  character,  when  its  duties  are  not 
fulfilled,  is  one  of  the  empty  compliments  which 
vice  and  folly  are  obliged  to  pay  to  virtue  and 
the  real  nature  of  things. 

To  illuflrate  my  opinion,  I  need  only  obferve, 
that  when  a  woman  is  admired  for  her  beauty, 
and  fufters  herfeif  to  be  fo  far  intoxicated  by  the 
admiration  (he  receives,  as  to  neglect  to  difcharge 
the  indifpenfable  duty  of  a  mother,  (lie  fins  againfi: 
herfeif  by  negleding  to  cultivate  an  affedion  that 
would  equally  tend  to  make  her  ufeful  and  hap- 
py. True  happinefs,  1  mean  all  the  contentment, 
and  virtuous  fatisfa(5iion,  tliat  can  be  fnatched  in 

this 


PvIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  249 

this  imperfed:  ftate,  muil  arife  from  well  regu- 
lated afFedlions  ;  and  an  affe(^i:ion  includes  a  duty. 
Men  are  not  aware  of  the  mifery  they  caufe,  and 
the  vicious  weaknefs  they  cherifji,  by  only  incit- 
ing women  to  render  themfelves  pleafmg  ;  they 
do  not  confider  that  they  thus  make  natural  and 
artificial  duties  clafn,  by  ficrificing  the  comfort 
and  refpecftability  of  a  woman's  life  to  voluptuous 
notions  of  beauty,  when  in  nature  they  all  har- 
monize. 

Cold  would  be  the  heart  of  a  huiband,  were  he 
not  rendered  unnatural  by  early  debauchery,  who 
did  not  feel  more  deli^rht  at  feeinff  his  child  fuck- 
Jed  by  its  mother,  than  the  moft  artful  wanton 
tricks  could  ever  raife  -,  yet  this  natural  way  of 
cementing  the  matrimonial  tie,  and  tv/ifling' 
efteem  with  fonder  recolled:ions,  wealth  leads 
women  to  fpurn.  To  preferve  their  beauty,  and 
wear  the  flowery  crown  of  the  day,  that  gives 
them  a  kind  of  right  to  reign  for  a  lliort  time 
over  the  fex,  they  negled  to  flamp  impreflions 
on  their  hulbands'  hearts,  that  would  be  remem- 
bered with  more  tendernefs  when  the  fnow  on  the 
head  began  to  chill  the  bofom,  than  even  their 
virgin  charms.  The  maternal  folicitude  of  a 
reafonable  affedlionate  woman  is  very  interefting, 
and  the  challened  dignity  with  whicli  a  mother 
returns  the  carefles  that  (he  and  her  child  receive 
from  a  father  who  has  been  fulfilling  the  ferious 
duties  of  his  flation,  is  not  only  a  refped;able,  but 
a  beautiful  fight.  So  fmgular,  indeed,  are  my 
feelings,  and  I  have  endeavoured  not  to  catch 
fadlitious  ones,  that  after  having  been  fatigued 
with  the  ficrht  of  in fi Did  grandeur  and  the  flavifli 

ceremonies 


250         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

ceremonies  that  with  cumberous  pomp  lupphed 
the  pLice  of  domeftic  affedions,  I  have  turned  to 
ibme  other  fcene  to  reUeve  my  eye  by  relHng  it 
on  the  refrefhijig  green  every  where  Scattered  by 
nature.  I  have  then  viewed  with  pleafure  a  wo- 
man nurfing  her  children,  and  difcharging  the 
duties  of  her  ftation  with,  perhaps,  merely  a  fcr- 
vant  maid  to  take  off  her  hands  the  fervile  part  of 
the  houfehold  buiinefs.  I  have  iccn  her  prepare 
herfelf  and  children,  with  only  the  luxury  of 
cleanlinefs,  to  receive  her  hufband,  who  return- 
ing weary  home  in  the  evening  found  fmiling 
babes  and  a  clean  hearth.  My  heart  has  loitered 
in  the  midffc  of  the  group,  and  has  even  throbbed 
with  fympathetic  emotion,  when  the  fcrapi ng 
cf  the  well  known  foot  has  raifed  a  pleafing  tu- 
mult. 

Whihl  my  benevolence  has  been  gratified  by 
contemplating  this  artlefs  pidlure,  I  have  thought 
that  a  couple  of  this  defcription,  equally  neccf- 
fary  and  independent  of  each  other,  becaufe  each 
fulfilled  the  refped:ive  duties  of  their  ftation,  pof- 
fefled  all  that  life  could  give. — Raifed  fufficient- 
ly  above  abjeft  poverty  not  to  be  obliged  to  weigh 
the  confequence  of  every  farthing  they  fpend,  and 
having  fufficient  to  prevent  their  attending  to  a 
frigid  fyilsm  of  economy,  which  narrows  both 
heart  and  mind.  I  declare,  fo  vulgar  are  my 
conceptions,  that  I  know  not  what  is  wanted  to 
render  this  the  happiefl  as  well  as  the  moft  re- 
fpef>:able  fituation  in  the  w^orld,  but  a  t.ifle  for 
literature,  to  throw  a  little  variety  and  interelt 
into  focial  converfc,  and  fome  fuperfluous  money 
to  give  to  the  needy  and  to  buy  books.     For  it  ia 

not 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  251 

not  pleafant  when  the  heart  is  opened  by  com- 
pafTion  and  the  head  adtive  in  arranging  plans  of 
ufefulnefs,  to  have  a  prim  urchin  continually 
twitching  back  the  elbow  to  prevent  the  hand 
from  drawing  out  an  almofl  empty  purfe,  vvhif- 
pering  at  the  lame  time  fome  prudential  maxim 
about  the  priority  of  juftice. 

Deftructivc,  however,  as  riches  and  inherited 
honours  are  to  the  human  charadler,  women  are 
more  debafed  and  cramped,  if  pofhble,  by  them, 
than  men,  becaufe  men  may  flill,  in  fome  degree, 
unfold  their  faculties  by  becoming  foldiers  and 
flatefmen . 

As  foldiers,  I  grant,  they  can  now  only  gather, 
for  the  mofl:  part,  vain  glorious  laurels,  whilfl 
they  adjuft  to  a  hair  the  European  balance,  tak- 
ing efpecial  care  that  no  bleak  northern  nook  or 
found  incline  the  beam.  But  the  days  of  true 
heroifm  are  over,  when  a  citizen  fought  for  his 
country  like  a  Fabricius  or  a  Wafhington,  and 
then  returned  to  his  farm  to  let  his  virtuous  fer- 
vour run  in  a  more  placid,  but  not  a  lefs  falutary, 
ftream.  No,  our  Britifh  heroes  are  oftener  fent 
from  the  gaming  table  than  from  the  plow  ;  and 
their  pafTions  have  been  rather  inflamed  by  hang- 
ing with  dumb  fufpenfe  on  the  turn  of  a  die, 
than  fublimatcd  by  panting  after  the  adventurous 
march  of  virtue  in  the  hiftoric  page. 

The  ftatefman,  it  is  true,  might  with  more 
propriety  quit  the  Faro  Bank,  or  card- table,  to 
guide  the  helm,  for  he  has  flill  but  to  (huffle  and 
trick.  The  whole  fyfcem  of  Britifli  politics,  if 
fyftcm  it  may  courteoufiy  be  called,  confiding 
in  multiplying  dependents  ?.nd  contriving  taxes 

which 


252        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

which  grind  the  poor  to  pamper  tlie  rich  ;  thus 
a  war,  or  any  wild  goofe  chace  is,  as  the  vulgar 
life  the  phrafe,  a  lucky  turn-up  of  patronage  for 
the  miniller,  whofe  chief  merit  is  the  art  of  keep- 
ing himfelf  in  place. 

It  is  not  necedary  then  that  he  fliould  have 
bowels  for  the  poor,  fo  he  can  fecure  for  his  fam- 
ily the  odd  trick.  Or  fhouid  fome  fhcv/ of  re- 
fpeG:,  for  what  is  termed  with  ignorant  often ta- 
tion  an  Englifl:iman's  birth-right,  be  expedient 
to  bubble  the  grufr  maflifF  that  he  has  to  lead  by 
the  nofe,  he  can  make  an  empty  fheu',  very  fife- 
)y,  by  giving  his  fmgle  voice,  and  fufFering  his 
lidit  fjuadron  to  file  oft  to  the  other  fide.  And 
when  a  queflion  of  humanity  is  agitated  he  may 
dip  3  fop  in^  the  milk  of  human  kindnefs,  to  fi- 
lenc,e  Cerberus^  and  talk  of  the  inteFeft  which 
his  heart  takes  aO  ?P  attempt  to  make  the  earth 
no  longer  cry  for  v-engeance  as  it  fucks  in  its 
childreii's  blQpd,  though  his  cold  hand  liiay  at  the 
very  rnprr^ent  rivet  their  chains,  by  fandlioning 
the  abominable  trafBck.  A  miniftcr  is  no  long- 
er a  qiinifter  than  while  he  can  carry  a  point, 
which  he  is  determined  to  carry. — Yet  it  is  not 
necefTary  that  a  minifter  fl^ould  feel  like  ii  man, 
when  a  bold  puih  might  fliake  his  feat. 

But,  to  have  done  with  thefc  epifodical  obferv- 
ations,  let  me  return  to  the  more  fpccious  flavery 
which  chains  the  very  foul  of  woman,  keeping 
her  for  ever  under  the  bondage  of  ignorance. 

The  prepollcrous  difandtions  of  rank,  which 
render  civilization  a  curfe,  by  dividing  the  worlcl 
betv/een  voluptuous  tyrants,  and  cunning  envi- 
ous   dependents,    corrupt,   almofl  equally,  every 

claf^ 


kiGHTS  OF  V/OMAN.  "        253 

clafs  of  people,  becaiife  refpiedlabiiity  is  hot  at- 
tached to  the  difcharge  of  the  relative  duties  of 
life,  but  to  the  flation,  titid  when  the  duties  are 
not  fulfilled  the  affex5tions  cannot  gain  fiifficient 
ftrength  to  fortify  the  virtue  of  which  they  arc 
iht  natural  revi^ard.  Still  there  are  fom;e  loop- 
holes out  of  \Vhich  a  man  may  creep,  and  dare  toi^ 
think  alidad:  forhimfelF  ;  but  for  a  woman  it  is 
an  herculean  taffc,  becaufc  (he  has  difficulties  pe- 
culiar to  her  fex  to^vercomc,  which'  require  al- 
mofi  fuper-human  powers.  ^-''    >.  ■ 

A  truly  benevx^lent  legifld^i*  ^?WayserideavourS 
to  iSiafee  it  'the  iiiteriSft  of •  each  indivitkial  to  be 
virttious  ;  arid  thu-s  pi'i'vate  virtud-bec'bming  th^ 
cemelit  of  public  hap'p^neft;  an  orccrly  whole  is 
confolidated  by  the  ten^eiity  of  ^11  the  parts  td- 
\vards  a  common--t'entre.-'-  But, -tho  priVatt  of 
public  -virtue  of  womaii  is  vei^  problcrciatical  i 
For  RoufTcau,  and  a  numei-ouslill  of  male  writers, 
infift  that  fliefliould  all  her  life  be  Ribj'o^ed  to 
a  fevere  reft'raint,  thdt  .of  propritty.  Why  fub- 
je6l  her  to  pi-opriety^^blind  propriety,  if  flie  be 
capable  of  acting  from  a  nobler  fpring,  if  fhe  be 
an  heir  of  immortality  ?  Is  fugar  always  id  be 
produced  by  vital  blood  ?  Is  one  half  of"  the  hu- 
tnan  fpecies,  like  the  poor  African  flaves,  to  be 
fabje(^t'  to  prejitdices  that  brutalize  them,  when 
principles  v/ould  be  a  furer  guard,  only  to  fweet- 
cn  the  cup  of  man  ?  Is  not  this  indiredly  to  de- 
ny wonrari  reafon  ?vibr  a  gift  is  a  mockery,  if  it 
be  unfit  for  ufe.  ■^^^'^^  X"'* 

Women  are,  in  common  with  men,  rendered 
weak  and  luxurious  by  the  relaxing  plcafures 
which  wealth  procui-es  ;   but  added  to  this  they 

are 


ii54        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

are  made  flaves  to  their  perfons,  and  muft  render 
them  alluring  that  man  may  lend  them  his  rea- 
fon  to  guide  their  tottering  fleps  aright.  Or 
fliould  they  be  ambitious,  they  mufl  govern  their 
tyrants  by  finifiier  trjcks,  for  without  rights  there 
cannot  be  any  incumbent  duties.  The  laws  re- 
fpe(5ting  woman,  which  I  mean  to  difcufs  in  a 
future  part,  make  an  abfurd  unit  of  a  man  and 
his  wife  ;  and  then,  by  the  eafy  tranfition  of  only 
confidering  him  as  refponfibie,  fhe  is  reduced  to 
a  mere  cypher. 

The  being  who  difcharges  the  duties  of  its  Na- 
tion is  independent  -,  and,  fpeaking  of  women  at 
large,  their  firft  duty  is  to  themfelves  as  rational 
creatures,  and  the  next,  in  point  of  importance, 
as  citizens,  is  that,  which  includes  fo  many,  of  a 
mother.  The  rank  in  life  which  difpenfes  with 
their  fulfilling  this  duty,  neceflarily  degrades 
them  by  making  them  mere  dolls.  Or,  (liould 
they  turn  to  fomething  more  important  than 
merely  fitting  drapery  upon  a  fmooth  block, 
their  minds  are  only  occupied  by  fome  foft  pla- 
tonic  attachment ;  or,  the  actual  management  of 
an  intrigue  may  keep  their  thoughts  in  motion  ; 
for  when  they  neglc6t  domeftic  duties,  they  have 
it  not  in  their  power  to  take  the  field  and  march 
and  counter-march  like  foldiers,  or  wrangle  in 
the  fenate  to  keep  their  faculties  from  rulling. 

I  know  that  as  a  proof  of  the  inferiority  of 
the  fex,  RoufTeau  has  exultingly  exclaimed,  Hov/ 
can  they  leave  the  nurfery  for  the  camp  ! — And 
the  camp  has  by  fome  moralifts  been  termed  the 
fchool  of  the  mofl  heroic  virtues  ;  though,  I 
think,  it  would  puzzle   a  keen  cafuiil  to  prove 

the 


RIGHTS  OF  WOIVlAN.  255 

the  reafonablenefs  of  the  greater  number  of  wars 
that  have  dubbed  heroes.  I  do  not  mean  to  con-- 
iider  this  queftion  critically ;  becaafe,  having 
frequently  viewed  thefe  freaks  of  ambition  as  the 
iirfl  natural  mode  of  civilization,  when  the 
ground  muft  be  torn  up,  and  the  woods  cleared 
by  fire  and  fword,  I  do  not  choofe  to  call  them 
pefts ;  but  furely  the  prefent  fyilem  of  war  has 
little  connection  with  virtue  of  any  denomination, 
being  rather  the  fchool  of  fmejfe  and  effeminacy^ 
than  of  fortitude. 

Yet,  if  defenlive  war,  the  only  juftifiable  war, 
in  the  prefent  advanced   fcate  of  fociety,  where 
virtue  can  fliew  its  face  and  ripen  amidfl  the  ri- 
gours which  purify  the  air  on   the   mountain's 
top,  were  alone  to  be  adopted  as  juft  and  glori- 
ous, the  true  heroifm   of  antiquity  might  agaia 
animate  female    bofoms. — But   fair   and  foftly,. 
gentle  reader,   male  or  female,  do  not  alarm  thy- 
lelf,  for   though    I  have  contrafled  the  character 
of  a  modern  foldier  with  that  of  a  civilized  wo-^ 
man,  I  am  not  going  to  advifethem  to  turn  their 
diftaffinto  a  mulket,    though  I  iincerely  wifli  ta 
fee   the  bayonet  converted  into  a  pruning-hook. 
;I  only  recreated  an  imagination,  fatigued  by  con- 
templating  the    vices  and  follies  which  all   pro- 
ceed from  a   feculent   flream   cf  wealth  that  has 
muddied   the  pure  rills  of  natural  afFcclion,   by 
fuppofing  that  fociety  will  fome  time  or  other  bo 
fo  conilituted,  that  man  mull;  ueccfTarily  fulfil  the 
duties  of  a  citizen,  or  be  defpifed,  and  that  while 
he  was  employed   in  any  of  the  departments  of 
civil  life,  his  wife,  alio  an    a6live  citizen,  fhould 
be  equally  intent  to  manage  her  family,    educate 
her  children,  and  afTifl  her  neighbour?.  But, 


256         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

Bat,  to    render  her  really  virtuous  'and  iiferul, 

fhe  muil  not,   if  ihe  diibharge  her  civil    duties, 

want,  individually,   the  protettion  of  civil  laws  ; 

ilic-  mull  not  be  deoendent  on  her  hufl:)and's  boun- 
^  i. 

ty  for  her  fubfiftence  during  his  life,  or  fupport 
after  his  death — for  how  ca-n  a  being  be  generous 
who  ha«  nothing  of  Its  own  ?  or,  virtuous,  who 
is  not  fi'ee  ?  The  wife,  in  the  prcfent  ftate  of 
things,  who  is  faithful  to  her  hudrand,  and  neith- 
er fuckles  nor  educates  her  children,  fcarcely  de- 
ferves  the  name  of  a  wife,  and  has  no  right  to 
that  of  a  citizen.  But  take  away  natural  rights, 
and  there  is  of  courfe  an  end  of  duties. 

Women  thus  infallibly  become  only  the  want- 
on folace  of  men,  when  they  are  fo  weak  in  mind 
and  body,  that  they  cannot  exert  themfelves,  un- 
lefs  to  purfue  fome  frothy  pleafure,  or  to  invent 
fome  frivolous  falliion.  What  can  be  a  more 
melancholy  fight  to  a  thinking  mind,  than  to 
look  into  the  numerous  carriages  that  drive  heit- 
er-flcelter  about  this  metropolis  in  a  morning 
full  of  pale-faced  creatures  who  are  flying  from 
them.felves.  I  have  often  wifhed,  with  Dr.  John- 
fon,  to  place  fome  of  them  in  a  little  fliop  with 
half  a  dozen  children  looking  up  to  their  languid 
countenances  for  fupport.  I  am  much  miftaken, 
if  fome  latent  vigour  would  not  foon  give  health 
and  fpirit  to  their  eyes,  and  iome  lines  drawn  by 
the  exercife  of  reafon  on  the  blank  cheeks,  which 
before  were  only  undulated  by  dimples,  might 
reflore  loft  dignity  to  the  character,  or  rather  en- 
able it  to  attain  the  true  dignity  of  its  nature. 
Virtue  is  not  to  be  acquired  even  by  fpeculation, 
much  lefs  by  the  ncjrative  fuoincnefs  that  wealth 
naturally  gener;ates,  •    Be  fides, 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  257 

Befides,  when  poverty  is  more  difgraceful  than 
even    vice,    is  not  morality  cut  to  the  quick  ? 
Still  to  avoid  mifconftrudlion,  though  I  confider 
that  women  in   the  common  walks  of  life  arc 
called  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  wives  and  mothers, 
by  religion  and  reafon,    I  cannot  help  lamenting 
that  women  of  a   fuperiour  caft  have  not  a  road 
open  by  which  they  can  purfue   more  extenfive 
plans  ofufefulnefs  and  independence.     T  may  ex- 
cite laughter,  by  dropping  an  hint,  which  I  mean 
to  purfue,  fome  future  time,  for  I   really    think 
that  women  ought  to  have  reprefentatives,  inflead 
of  being  arbitrarily  governed  without  having  any 
diredl  fhare  allowed  them  in  the  deliberations  of 
goverment. 

But,  as  the  whole  fyflem  of  reprefentation  is 
now,  in  this  country,  only  a  convenient  handle 
for  defpotifm,  they  need  not  complain,  for  they 
are  as  well  reprefented  as  a  numerous  clafs  of 
hard  working  mechanics,  who  pay  for  the  fup- 
port  of  royalty  when  they  can  fcarcely  flop  their 
children's  mouths  with  bread.  How  are  they 
reprefented  whofe  very  fvveat  fupports  the  fplen- 
did  ftud  of  an  heir  apparent,  or  varnilhes  the  cha- 
riot of  fome  female  favourite  who  looks  down  on 
fliame  ?  Taxes  on  the  very  neceffaries  of  life,  en- 
able an  endlefs  tribe  of  idle  princes  and  princelTes 
to  pafs  with  flupid  pomp  before  a  gaping  crowd, 
who  almoft  worfliip  the  very  parade  which  cofl;j 
them  fo  dear.  This  is  mere  gothic  grandeur, 
fomething  like  the  barbarous  ufelefs  parade  of 
having  fentinels  on  horfeback  at  Whitehall,  which 
I  could  never  view  v-'ithout  a  mixture  of  con- 
tempt and  indignation. 

R  How 


258         VLNDICATION  OF  THE 

How  flrangely  mufl  the  mind  be  fopliiilicated 
.  vvheii  this  fort  of  Hate  impreffes  it  !  But,  till 
thefe  monuments  of  folly  are  levelled  by  virtue, 
fmiilar  follies  will  leaven  the  whole  mals.  For 
the  fame  character,  in  fome  degree,  will  prevail 
in  the  aggregate  of  fociety  :  and  the  refinements 
of  luxury,  or  the  vicious  repinings  of  envious 
poverty,  will  equally  banidi  virtue  from  Ibciety, 
confidered  as  the  charaifteridic  of  that  fociety,  or 
only  allow  it  to  appear  as  one  of  the  ftripes  of 
the  harlequin  coat,  worn  by  the  civilized  man. 

In  the  fuperiour  ranks  of  life,  every  duty  is 
done  by  deputies,  as  if  duties  could  ever  be  v/av- 
ed,  and  the  vain  pleafures  which  confcquent  idle- 
nefs  forces  the  rich  to  purfue,  appear  fo  enticing 
to  the  next  rank,  that  the  numerous  fcraniblers 
for  wealth  facrilice  every  thing  to  tread  on  their 
heels.  The  mof!:  facred  trufls  are  then  confid- 
ered as  finecures,  becaufe  they  were  procured  by 
interefl,  and  only  fought  to  enable  a  man  to  keep 
good  company.  Women,  in  particular,  all  want 
to  be  ladies.  Which  is  fimply  to  have  nothing 
to  do,  but  liniefsly  to  go  they  fcarcely  care  where, 
for  they  cannot  tell  what. 

But  what  have  women  to  do  in  fociety  ?  I 
may  be  afked,  but  to  loiter  with  eafy  grace ; 
furely  you  would  not  condemn  them  all  to  fuckle 
fools  and  chronicle  fm.all  beer  !  No.  Women 
might  certainly  ftudy  the  art  of  healing,  and  be 
phyficians  as  well  as  nurfes.  And  midwife- 
ry, decency  feems  to  allot  to  them,  though  I 
am  afraid  the  word  midvvife,  in  our  didtionariss, 
will  foon  give  place  to  accoucheur ,  and  one  proof 
of  the  former  delicacy  of  the  lex  be  eifaced  from 
the  language.  They 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN,  259 

They  might,  alfo,  ftady  politics,  and  fettle 
iheir  benevolence  on  the  broadell  bafis  ;  for  the 
heading  of  hiftory  will  fcarcely  be  more  ufeful 
than  the  perufal  of  romanceSj  if  read  as  mere  bi- 
ography i  if  the  character  of  the  times,  the  po- 
litical improvements,  arts,  &c.  be  not  obferved. 
In  fhort,  if  it  be  not  confidered  as  the  hiflory  of 
man  ;  arid  not  of  particular  men,  who  ftlled  a 
niche  in  the  temple  of  fame,  and  dropped  into  the 
black  rolling  ilream  of  time,  that  filently  fweeps 
all  before  it,  into  the  iliapelels  void  called — eter- 
liity. — For  iliapc,  can  it  be  called,  *  that  fliape 
*  hath  none  ?' 

Bufinefs  of  various  kinds,  they  might  likewiis 
purfue,    if  they  were  educated  in  a  more  orderly 
ihanner,   which  might  fave  many  from  common 
and  legal  proftitution.     Women  would  not  then 
rharry  for  a  fupport,  as  men  accept  of  places  un- 
der government,  and  neglect  the  implied  duties ; 
rior  would  an   attempt  to  earn  their  own  fubfift- 
ence,  a  moft  laudable  one  !    fmk  them  alrnoft  to 
the  level  of  thofe  poor  abandoned  creatures   who 
live  by  proflitution.      For  are  not  milliners  and 
iiiantua-makers    reckoned   the   next  clafs  ?  The 
few  employments  open   to  women,    fo  far  fi"oni 
being  liberal,  are  menial  ;   and  when  a  fuperiour 
education  enables  them  to  take  charge  of  the  edu- 
cation  of  children  as  governefics,  they  are  hot 
treated  like  the  tutors  of  fons,   though  even  cle- 
rical tutors  are   not  always   treated  in   a  manner 
calculated  to  render  them  refpeftable  in  the  eyes 
of  their  pupils,  to  fay  nothing  of  the  private  com- 
fort  of  the  individual.     But  as  women  educated  . 
like  gentlewomen,  are  never  dehgned  for  the  hu- 
R  a  miiiating 


26o        VINDICATION  Ol^  THE 

mlliatingfituation  which  necelTity  fometimes  forc- 
es them  to  fill  ;  thefe  fituations  are  conlidered  in 
the  light  of  a  degradation  ;  and  they  know  little 
of  the  human  heart,  who  need  to  be  told,  that 
nothing  fo  painfully  {harpens  the  fenfibility  as 
fuch  a  fall  in  life. 

Some  of  thefe  women  might  be  reftrained  from 
marrying  by  a  proper  fpirit  or  delicacy,  and  oth- 
ers may  not  have  had  it  in  their  power  to  efcape 
in  this  pitiful  way  from  fervitude  ;  is  not  that 
government  then  very  defed:ive,  and  very  un- 
mindful of  the  happinefs  of  one  half  of  its  mem- 
bers, that  does  not  provide  for  honeft,  independ- 
ent women,  by  encouraging  them  to  fill  re- 
fpedtable  ftations  ?  But  in  order  to  render  their 
private  virtue  a  public  benefit,  they  muft  have  a 
civil  exiftence  in  the  ftate,  married  or  fingle  ; 
elfe  we  (hall  continually  fee  fome  worthy  wo- 
man, whofe  fenfibility  has  been  rendered  pain- 
fully acute  by  undeferved  contempt,  droop  like 
*  the  lily  broken  down  by  a  plow-fliare/ 

It  is  a  melancholy  truth  ;  yet  fuch  is  the 
blefiTed  effect  of  civilization  !  the  moft  refpedlable 
women  are  the  moft  opprelTed  -,  and,  unlefs  they 
have  underftandings  far  fuperiour  to  the  common 
run  of  underftandings,  taking  in  both  fexes,  they 
muft,  from  being  treated  like  contemptible  be- 
ings, become  contemptible.  How  many  wo- 
men thus  wafte  life  away  the  prey  of  difcontent, 
"who  might  have  pracSifed  as  phyficians,  regula- 
ted a  farm,  managed  a  ihop,  and  ftood  ered:,  fup- 
ported  by  their  own  induftry,  inftcad  of  hanging 
their  heads  furcharged  with  the  dew  of  fenfibili- 
tr>  that  confumes  the  beauty  to  which  it  at  firft. 

gave 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  261 

gave  luftie  ;  nay,  I  doubt  whether  pity  and  love 
are  £0  near  akin  as  poets  feign,  for  I  have  feldom 
feen  much  companion  excited  by  the  helplefT- 
nefs  of  females,  unlefs  they  were  fair  ^  then,  per- 
haps, pity  was  the  foft  handmaid  of  love,  or  the 
harbinger  of  luft. 

How  much  more  refpedable  is  the  woman  who 
earns  her  own  bread  by  fulfilling  any  duty,  than 
the  moft  accomplished  beauty  ! — beauty  did  I 
Jay  ?— fo  fenfible  am  I  of  the  beauty  of  moral 
lovelinefs,  or  the  harmonious  propriety  that  at- 
tunes the  pafiions  of  a  wellr- regulated  mind,  that 
I  bluih  at  making  the  comparifon  ;  yet  I  figh  to 
think  how  few  women  aim  at  attaining  this  re- 
fpe6tability  by  withdrawing  from  the  giddy: 
whirl  of  pleafure,  or  the  indolent  calm  that  flu- 
pifies  the  good  fort  of  women  it  fucks  in. 

Proud  of  their  weaknefs,  however,  they  muft 
always  be  proteiled,  guarded  from  care,  and  all  the 
rough  toils  that  dignify  the  mind. — If  this  be  the 
fiat  of  fate,  if  they  will  make  themfelves  infigni- 
ficant  and  contemptible,  fweetly  to  wafte  *  life 
*  away  *  let  them  not  exped  to  be  valued  when 
their  beauty  fades,  for  it  is  the  fate  of  the  faireft 
flowers  to  be  admired  and  pulled  to  pieces  by  the 
carelefs  hand  that  plucked  them.  In  how  ma- 
ny ways  do  I  wifh,  from  the  pureft  benevolence, 
to  imprefs  this  truth  on  my  fex  ;  yet  I  fear  that 
they  will  not  liften  to  a  truth  that  dear  bought 
experience  has  brought  home  to  many  an  agitated 
bofom,  nor  willingly  refign  the  privileges  of 
rank  and  fex  for  the  privileges  of  humanity,  to 
which  thofe  have  no  claim  who  do  not  difcharge 
its  duties. 

R3  Thofe 


262        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

Thofe  writers  are  particularly  ufeful,  m  my 
opinion,  who  make  m.an  feel  for  man,  independ- 
ent of  the  ftation  he  fills,  or  the  drapery  or  fac- 
titious fentiments.  I  then  would  fain  convince 
reafonable  men  of  the  importance  of  fome  of  my 
remarks,  and  prevail  on  them  to  weigh  difpaffion- 
ately  the  whole  tenor  of  my  obfervations. — I  ap- 
peal to  their  underftandings  j  and,  as  a  fellow- 
Greaturq  claim,  in  the  name  of  my  fex,  fome  ih,-- 
tereft  in  their  hearts.  I  entreat  them  to  aiTi(l:  to 
emancipate  their  companion,  to  make  her  a  help 
meet  for  them  1 

Would  men  but  generouily  fnap  our  chains,, 
and  be  content  with  rational  fellowfhipinflead  of 
fiavifh  obedience,  they  would  find  us  more  ob- 
fervant  daughters,  rnore  afi^edlionate  fifters,  more 
faithful  wives,  more  reafonable  mothers — in  a 
word,  better  citizens.  We  Should  then  love 
them  with  true  affedlion,  becaufc  we  fhould  leara 
to  refpecft  ourfelves  ;  and  the  peace  of  mind  of  a 
worthy  man  would  not  be  interrupted  by  the  idle 
vanity  of  his  wife,  nor  his  babes  fent  to  neflle  in 
a  flrange  bofom,  having  never  found  a  home  iu 
iheir  mother's. 


0  H  A  r. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  263 

C     H     A     P.      X. 

PARExVTAL      AFFECTION. 

Parental  aftedtlon  is,  perhaps,  the bllnd- 
eft  modification  of  perverfe  felf-love  ;  for  we  have 
not,    hke    the  French*,   two    terms  to    diftin- 
guifh  the  purfuit  of  a  natural  and  reafonable    de- 
fire,  from  the  Ignorant  calculations  of  weaknefs. 
Parents  often  love  their    children    ia    the    moil 
brutal  manner,  and  facrifice  every  relative  duty  to 
promote  their  advancement  in    the    world. — To 
promote,  fuch  is  the  pcrverfity    of  unprincipled 
prejudices,   the  future  welfare  of  the  very  beings 
whofe  prefent  cxiftence  they  embitter  by  the  raofl 
defpotic    ilretch    of  pov/er.      Power,    in  fa6l,  is 
ever  true  to  its  vital  principle,  for  in  every  fhape 
it  would  reign  without  controul  or  inquiry.     Its 
throne  is  built  acrofs  a  dark  abyfs,  which  no  eye 
muft    dare  to   explore,    left    the   bafelefs   fabric 
fhould    totter  under    inveftigation.      Obedience, 
unconditional  obedience,  is  the  catch-word  of  ty- 
rants of  every  defcription,  and  to  render   *  aiTur- 
*  ance  doubly  fure,'  one  kind  of  defpotifm  fup- 
ports  another.     Tyrants    would   have   caufe    to 
tremble  If  reafon  were  to  become  the  rule  of  duty 
in  any  of  the  relations  of  life,  for  the  light  might 
fpread    till    perfedt  day  appeared.     And  when  it 
did  appear,  how  would  men  fmile  at  the  fight  of 
the   bugbears    at   which    they  ftarted  during  the 
night  ot  ignorance,    or  the  twilight;  of  timid  in- 
quiry. Parental 

R4 

*  J^'ar.:u"  propre.     V amour  it  foi  meme. 


264        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

Parental  afFedion,  indeed,  in  many  minds,  is 
but  a  pretext  to  tyrannize  where  it  can  be  done 
with  impunity,  for  only  good  and  wife  men  are 
content  with  the  refpcd:  that  will  bear  difcuflion. 
Convinced  that  they  have  a  right  to  what  they 
infift  on,  they  do  not  fear  reafon,  or  dread  the 
fifting  of  fubjeds  that  recur  to  natural  juflice  : 
becaufe  they  firmly  believe  that  the  more  en- 
lightened the  human  mind  becomes  the  deeper 
root  will  juft  and  fimple  principles  take.  They 
do  not  reft  in  expedients,  or  grant  that  what  is 
metaphyfically  true  can  be  pradtically  falfe  ^  but 
difdaining  the  fhifts  of  the  moment  they  calmly 
w^ait  till  time,  fandtioning  innovation,  filences  the 
hifs  of  felfifhnefs  or  envy. 

If  the  power  of  refleding  on  the  paft,  and 
darting  the  keen  eye  of  contemplation  into  futu- 
rity, be  the  grand  privilege  of  man,  it  muft  be 
granted  that  fome  people  enjoy  this  prerogative 
in  a  very  limited  degree.  Every  thing  now  ap- 
pears to  them  wrong  ;  and  not  able  to  diftinguiili 
the  poffible  from  the  monftrous,  they  fear  where 
TiO  fear  fhould  find  a  place,  running  from  the 
light  of  reafon,  as  if  it  were  a  firebrand  ;  yet  the 
limits  of  the  pofTible  have  never  been  defined  to 
flop  the  fturdy  innovator's  hand. 

\Voman,  however,  a  llave  in  every  fituation  to 
prejudice,  feldom  exerts  enlightened  maternal  af- 
fedlion  ;  for  fhe  either  neglects  her  children,  or 
fpoils  them  by  improper  indulgence.  Befides, 
the  affedion  of  feme  women  for  their  children 
is,  as  I  have  before  termed  it,  frequently  very 
brutifh  :  for  it  eradicates  every  fpark  of  humani- 
ty,    Juftipe,  truth,  every  thing   is  facrificed  by 

thcfe 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  265 

thefe  Rebekah's,  and  for  the  fake  of  tlielr  cwji 
children  they  violate  the  mod  facred  duties,  for- 
getting the  common  relationfhip  that  binds  the 
whole  family  on  earth  together.  Yet,  reafon 
feems  to  fay,  that  they  who  fuiFer  one  duty,  or 
aftedlion,  to  fwallow  up  the  reft,  have  not  fuffi- 
cient  heart  or  mind  to  fulfil  that  one  confcien- 
tioufly.  It  then  lofes  the  venerable  afpefl  of  a 
duty,  and  affumes  the  fantaftic  form  of  a  whim. 

As  the  care  of  children  in  their  infancy  is  one 
of  the  grand  duties  annexed  to  the  female  charac- 
ter by  nature,  this  duty  would  afrord  many  forci- 
ble arguments  for  ftrengthening  the  female  un- 
dcrflanding,  if  it  were  properly  confidered. 

The  formation  of  the  mind  muft  be  begun 
very  early,  and  the  temper,  in  particular,  requires 
the  moil  judicious  attention — an  attention  which 
women  cannot  pay  who  only  love  their  children 
becaufe  they  are  their  children,  and  feek  no  fur- 
ther for  the  foundation  of  their  duty,  than  in  the 
feelings  of  the  moment.  It  is  this  want  of  rca- 
fon  in  their  affedtions  which  makes  women  ^o  oft- 
en run  into  extremes,  and  either  be  the  moft  fond 
or  mofl  carelefs  and  unnatural  mother? . 

To  be  a  good  mother — a  vroman  mulT:  have 
fenfe,  and  that  independence  of  mind  which  few- 
women  poflefs  who  are  taught  to  depend  entirely 
on  their  hulbands.  Meek  wives  are,  in  general, 
foolith  mothers  ;  wanting  their  children  to  love 
them  beft,  and  take  their  part,  in  fecret,  againft 
the  father,  who  is  held  up  as  a  fcarecrow.  If 
they  are  to  be  puniflied,  though  they  have  offend- 
ed the  mother,  the  father  m-uft  inilid:  the  punilh- 
ment  ^   he  mufl  be  the  judge  in  all  difputes :  but 

I 


i66         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

I  fliall  more  fully  difcufs  this  fubjed:  when  I 
treat  of  private  education,  I  now  only  mean  to  in- 
fill, thiit  unlefs  the  underftanding  of  woman  be 
enlarged,  and  her  character  rendered  more  firm, 
by  being  allowed  to  govern  her  own  tondu(5l,  Ihe 
%vili  never  have  fjfficient  fenfe  or  command  of 
temper  to  manage  her  children  properly.  Her 
parental  affedion,  indeed,  fcarcely*  deferves  the 
name,  when  it  does  not  lead  her- to  fuckie  her 
children,  becaufe  the  difcharge  of  this  duty  is 
equally  calculated  to  infp^re  maternal  and  filial 
affection  :  and  it  is  the  indifpenfable  duty  of  men 
and  women  to  fulfil  the  duties  v/hich  s-jve  birth 
to  affections  that  are  the  furelt  prefervatives  againft 
vice.  Natural  affedtion,  as  it  is  termed,  I  beiie\'e 
to  be  a  very  faint  tie,  affed:ions  mull:  grow  out  of 
the  habitual  exercife  of  a  mutual  lympathy  ;  and 
what  fympathy  does  a  mother  exercife  u'ho  fends 
her  babe  to  a  nurfe,  and  only  takes  it  from  a  nurfs 
to  fend  it  to  a  fchool  ? 

In  the  exercife  of  their  maternal  feelings  pro- 
vidence has  furniilied  women  with  a  natural  fub- 
fiitute  for  love,  v/hen  the  lover  becomes  only  a 
friend  and  mutual  confidence  takes  place  of  over- 
llrained  admiration — a  child  then  gently  twifls  the 
relaxing  cord,  and  a  mutual  care  produces  a  new 
mutual  fympathy. — But  a  child,  though  a"pledge 
of  affe3:ion,  will  not  enliven  it,  if  both  father  and 
mother  are  content  to  transfer  the  chaige  to  hire- 
lings ;  for  they  vv'ho  do  their  duty  by  proxy 
fhould  not  murmur  if  they  mifs  the  reward  of 
(luty — parental  a^edtion  produces  filial  duty. 

C  HA  P. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  267 


C  H  A  P.     XF, 

L'  U T y  " .T>b-  * P  AR  E i^  T S • 

T!  '  I  ,  ■ 
HERE  feems  to  be  an  indolent  propenfi- 
ty  in  man  to  make  prefcription  always,  take  place 
of  reafon,  and  to  place  every  duty  oa  an  arbitraiy 
foundation.  The  rightr,  of  kings  are  deduced  in 
a  direct  line  from  the  King  of  kings ;  and  that  of 
parents  from  our  firil  parent. 

"Why  do  we  thus  .go  back  for  principles  that 
fhould  always  refl  on  the  fame  bafe,  and  have  the 
fame  weight  to-day  that  they  had  a  thoufand 
years  ago — and  not  a  jot  more  ?  If  parents  dif- 
charg<?  their  duty  they  have  a  ftrong  hold  and 
facred  claim  on  the  gratitude  of  their  children  ; 
but  few  parents  are  willing  to  receive  the  re- 
fpecStful  affed:ion  of  their  offspring  onfuch  terms. 
They  demand  blind  obedience,  becaufe  they  do 
not  merit  a  reafonable  fervice  :  and  to  render 
thefe  demands    of  weaknels  and   ignorance  more 

o 

binding,  a  myfterious  fandity  is  fpread  round  the 
mod  arbitrary  principle  ;  for  vv^hat  other  name 
can  be  given  to  the  blind  duty  of  obeying  vicious 
or  weak  beings  mei-ely  becaufe  they  obeyed  a 
powerful  inftindl  ? 

The  fimple  dehiiition  of  the  reciprocal  duty, 
which  naturally  fub lifts  between  parent  and  child, 
may  be  giveain  a  fev/  words  :  The  parent  wbo 
pays  proper  attention  to  helplefs  infancy  has  a 
right  to  require  the  fame  attention  when  the  fee- 
jr-lenefs  of  age  comes  upon  him.     But  to  fubju- 

gate 


263         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

?ate  a  rational  beini^  to  the  mere  will  of  r.nother, 
after  he  is  of  age  to  anfwer  to  fociety  for  his  own 
conduft,  is  a  moft  cruel  and  undue  ftretch  of  pow- 
er J  and,  perhaps,  as  injurious  to  morality  as 
ihofe  religious  fyflems  which  do  not  allow  right 
and  wrong  to  have  any  exiftence,  but  in  the  Di- 
vine will. 

I  never  knew  a  parent  who  had  paid  more  than 
common  attention  to  his  children,  difregarded*; 
on  the  contrary,  the  early  habit  of  relying  almoft 
implicitly  on  the  opinion  of  a  refpec^ed  parent  is  not 
eafily  (hook,  even  when  matured  resfon  convinces 
the  child  that  his  father  is  not  the  wifcll:  man  in 
the  world.  This  weaknefs,  for  a  weakncfs  it  is, 
though  the  epithet  amiable  may  be  tacked  to  it,  a 
reafonable  man  muft  fteel  himfelf  againft  ;  for 
the  abfurd  duty,  too  often  inculcated,  of  obeying 
a  parent  only  on  account  of  his  being  a  parent, 
fliackles  the  mind,  and  prepares  it  for  a  flavifli 
fubmiflion  to  any  pov/er  but  reafon. 

I  diftinguifh  between  the  natural  and  accident- 
al duty  due  to  parents. 

The  parent  who  feduoufly  endeavours  to  form 
the  heart  and  enlarge  the  underftanding  of  his 
child,  has  given  that  dignity  to  the  difcharge  of 
a  duty,  common  to  the  whole  animal  world,  that 
only  reafon  can  give.  This  is  the  parental  af- 
fe'ition  of  humanity,  and  leaves  inftind:ive  na- 
tural affe<flion  far  behind.  Such  a  parent  acquires 
all  the  rights  of  the  moft  facred  f  riendfliip,  and 
his  advice,  even  v/hen  his  child  is  advanced  in 
life,  demands  ferioi^s  confideration. 

With 

•  Dr.  JohnfoD  make*  the  fame  obfetvaiion, 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  269 

With  refped  to  marriage,  though  after  one  and 
twenty  a  parent  fecms  to  have  no  right  to  with- 
hold his  confent  on  any  account  ;  yet  twenty 
years  of  folicitude  call  for  a  turn,  and  the  fon 
ought,  at  leafl,  to  promifc  not  to  marry  for  two 
or  three  years,  fliould  theobjed:  of  his  choice  not 
entirely  meet  with  the  approbation  of  his  firfl 
friend. 

But,  refpe(fl  for  parents  is,  generally  fpeaking, 
a  much  moredebafing  principle;  it  is  only  a  felf- 
ilh  refped:  for  property.  The  father  who  is 
blindly  obeyed,  is  obeyed  from  flieer  weaknefs,  or 
from  motives  that  degrade  the  human  charadter. 

A  great  proportion  of  the  mifery  that  wanders, 
in  hideous  forms  around  the  world,  is  allowed 
to  rife  from  the  negligence  of  parents  ;  and  ftill 
thefe  are  the  people  who  are  moil  tenacious  of 
what  they  term  a  natural  right,  though  it  be  fub- 
verfive  of  the  birth-right  of  man,  the  right  of 
a6ling  according  to  the  direction  of  his  own  rea.. 
ion. 

I  have  already  very  frequently  had  occalion  to 
obferve,  that  vicious  or  indolent  people  arc  al- 
ways eager  to  profit  by  enforcing  arbitrary  privi- 
leges ;  and,  generally,  in  the  lame  proportion  as 
they  negleifl:  the  difcharge  of  the  duties  which 
alone  render  the  privileges  reafonable.  This  is  at 
the  bottom  a  diftate  of  common  fenfe,  or  the  in- 
flintfl  of  felf-defence,  peculiar  to  ignorant  weak- 
nefs ',  refembling  that  inftind,  which  makes  a 
fifli  muddy  the  water  itfwims  in  to  allude  its  en- 
emy, inflead  of  boldly  facing  it  in  the  clear 
ftream. 

From 


£70         VlNDICAtlOisr  OF  THE 

From  the  clear  ftream  of  ar^imient,  indeea, 
the  fupportcrs  of  prefcription,  of  every  denomi- 
nation,  fly  J  and,  taking  refuge  in  the  darknefs, 
which,  in  the  language  of  fublime  poetry,  has 
been  fuppofed  to  furround  the  throne  of  Omnip- 
otence, they  dare  to  demand  that  implicit  refped: 
which  is  only  due  to  His  unfearchable  ways. 
But,  let  me  not  be  thought  prefumptuous,  the 
darknefs  which  hides  our  God  froni  us,  only  re- 
Ipedts  fpeculative  truths — it  never  obfcures  moral 
ones,  they  fhine  clearly,  for  God  is  light,  and 
never,  by  the  confiitution  of  our  nature,  tequircs 
the  difcharge  of  a  duty,  the  reafonablenefs  of 
which  does  not  beam  on  us  when  v/e  open  our 
eyes. 

The  indolent  parent  of  high  rank  may,  it  is 
true,  extort  a  ihew  of  refpeit  from  his  child,  and 
females  on  the  continent  are  particularly  fubjeift 
to  the  views  of  fheir  families,  who  never  think 
ofconfulting  their  inclination,  or  providing  for 
the  comfort  of  the  poor  vid:ims  of  their  pride. 
The  confequence  is  notorious  ;  thefe  dutiful 
daughters  become  adultereiTeSj  and  negledt  the 
education  of  tlieir  children,  from  w-hom  they, 
in  their  turn,  exaft  the  fame  kind  of  obedience. 

Females,  it  is  true,  in  all  countries,  are  too 
much  under  the  dominion  of  their  parents  ;  and 
few  parents  think  of  addreffing  their  children  in 
the  following  manner,  thoufrh  it  is  in  this  rea- 
fonahle  way  that  Heaven  f:cLT.^  to  command  the 
whole  human  race,  it  is  your  interefl  to  obey 
me  till  you  can  judge  tor  yourfelf ;  and  the  Al- 
mighty Father  of  all  has  implanted  an  affedlio.^ 
in  me  to  fervc  as  a  gur.rd  to  you  v/hilft  your  rea- 

foii 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  2;i 

fon  is  unfolding  ;  but  when  your  mind  r.nives  at 
maturity,  vcu  mufl:  only  obey  me,  or  rather  re- 
fpe(5t  my  opinions,  lo  far  as  they  coincide  Avith 
the  light  that  is  breaking  in  on  your  own  mind. 
A  llavifli  bondage  to  parents  cramps  every  fac- 
ulty of  the  mind  ;  and  Mr.  Locke  very  judiciouf- 
ly  obferves,  that  *  if  the   mind  be  curbed  and 

*  humbled  too  much  in  children  ;  if  their  fpirits 

*  be  abafed  and  broken  much  by  too  ftrid:  an  hand 

*  over  them  ;    they   lofe  all  their  vigour  and  in- 

*  duftry.'  This  ilrid  hand  may  in  fome  degree 
account  for  the  weaknefs  of  women  ;  for  girls, 
from  various  caufes,  are  more  kept  down  by  their 
parents,  in  every  fenfe  cf  the  word,  than  boys. 
The  duty  expedled  from  them  is,  like  all  the  du- 
ties arbitrarily  impoied  on  women,  m.ore  from  a 
fenfe  of  propriety,  more  out  of  refped:  for  deco- 
rum than  reafon  ;  and  thus  taught  flavifhly  to 
fubmit  to  their  parents,  they  are  prepared  for  the 
flavery  of  marriage.  I  may  be  told  that  a  num- 
ber of  women  are  not  (laves  in  the  marriage  flate. 
True,  but  they  then  become  tyrants  ;  for  it  is 
not  rational  freedom,  but  a  lawlefs  kind  of  power 
refembling  the  authority  exercifed  by  the  favourites 
of  abfolute  monarchs,  which  they  obtain  by  de- 
bahng  means.  I  do  not,  likewife,  dream  of  in- 
finuating  that  either  boys  or  girls  are  always 
Haves,  I  only  infif!:  that  when  they  are  obliged  to 
fubmit  to  authority  blindly,  their  fliculties  are 
weakened,'and  tlieir  tempers  rendered  imperious 
or  abjcil.  I  alfo  lament  that  parents,  indolently 
avaihng  themfelyes  of  a  fuppofed  privilege,  damp 
the  full  faint  glimmering  of  reafon,  rendering  at 
the  fame  time  the  duty,  v.'hich  they  are  fo  anx- 
ious 


272        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

ious  to  enforce,  an  empty  name  ;  becaule  they 
will  not  let  it  reft  on  the  only  bafis  on  which  a 
duty  can  reft  fecurely  :  for  unlefs  it  be  founded 
on  knowledge,  it  cannot  gain  fufficient  ftrength 
to  refift  the  fqualls  of  paffion,  or  the  filent  fap- 
ping  of  lelf-love.  But  it  is  not  the  parents  who 
have  given  the  fureft  proof  of  their  affedion  for 
their  children,  or,  to  fpeak  more  properly,  who 
by  fulfilling  their  duty,  have  allowed  a  natural 
parental  aftedion  to  take  root  in  their  hearts,  the 
child  of  excifed  fympathy  and  reafon,  and  not  the 
over- weening  offspring  ot  felfifh  pride,  who  moft 
vehemently  infift  on  their  children  fabmitting  to 
their  will  merely  becaufe  it  is  their  will.  On  the 
contrary,  the  parent,  who  fets  a  good  example, 
patiently  lets  that  example  w^ork  ;  and  it  feldom 
fails  to  produce  its  natural  effect — filial  refpe(fl. 

Children  cannot  be  taught  too  early  to  fubmit 
to  reafon,  the  true  definition  of  that  neceflity, 
which  RouiTeau  infifted  on,  without  defining  it ; 
for  to  fubmit  to  reafon  is  to  fubmit  to  the  nature 
of  things,  and  to  that  God,  who  formed  them 
fo,  to  promote  our  real  intereft. 

Why  fhould  the  minds  of  children  be  warped 
as  they  juft  begin  to  expand,  only  to  favour  the 
indolence  of  parents,  who  infift  on  a  privilege 
without  being  willing  to  pay  the  price  fixed  by 
nature  ?  I  have  before  had  occafion  to  obferve,  that 
a  right  always  includes  a  duty,  and  I  think  it  may, 
likewife,  fairly  be  inferred,  that  they  forfeit  tha 
right,  who  do  not  fulfil  the  duty. 

It  is  eafier,  I  grant,  to  command  than  reafon  j 
but  it  does  not  follow  from  hence  that  children 
cannot  comprehend  the  reafon  why  they  are  made 

to 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  273 

to  do  certain  things  habitually  ;  for,  from  a  fteady 
adherence  to  a  few  iimple  principles  of  conduct 
flows  that  falutary  power  which  a  judicious  par- 
ent gradually  gains  over  a  child's  mind.  And 
this  power  becomes  ftrong  indeed,  if  tempered 
by  an  even  difplay  of  affed:ion  brought  home  to 
the  child's  heart.  For  I  believe,  as  a  general 
rule,  it  muft  be  allowed  that  the  affedion  which 
we  infpire  always  refembles  that  we  cultivate  ; 
fo  that  natural  aifedlions,  which  have  been  fup- 
pofed  almoft  diftindl  from  reafon,  may  be  found 
more  nearly  connected  with  judgment  than  is 
commonly  allowed.  Nay,  as  another  proof  of 
the  neceffity  of  cultivnting  the  female  underftand- 
ing,  it  is  but  juft  to  obferve,  that  the  afted:ions 
feem  to  have  a  kind  of  animal  capricioufnefs  wheii 
they  merely  refide  in  the  heart. 

It  is  the  irregular  exercife  of  patental  authority 
that  firft  injures  the  mind,  and  to  thefe  irregu- 
larities girls  are  more  fubjedt  than  boys;  The 
will  of  thofe  who  never  allow  their  Will  to  be; 
difputed,  unlefs  they  happen  to  be  in  a  good  hu- 
mour, when  they  relax  proportionally,  is  almoft 
always  unreafonable.  To  elude  this  arbitrary  au- 
thority girls  very  early  learn  the  leflbns  which 
they  afterwards  praftife  on  their  hufbands  •  for  I 
have  frequently  feen  a  little  {harp-faced  mifs  ruld 
a  whole  family,  excepting  that  now  and  then 
mamma's  anger  will  burft  out  of  fome  accidental 
cloud  i  either  her  hair  was  ill  drefled'^,  or  fhe  had 
lofl  niore  money  at  cards,  the  night  before,  than 

S  fhe 

•  I  myfelf  heard  a  Jlttlt  girl  once  faV  to  ai  ferrarjt,   *  My  mamma  haj 

*  been  Tcolding   me  finely  this  morning,   becauls  her  hair  was  not  dreffed 

*  to  pleafe  her.'  Though  this  remark  was  pert,  it  was  julh  And  what 
refpeft  could  a  girl  acquire  for  fuch  a  parent  wiihoat  ^o^^g  violence  (ei 
reafon  ?  -  ^ .    .  i   . 


.274 


VINDICATION  6i^  THI^ 


fhe  was  willing  to  own  to  her  hulband  ;   or  fame 
fuch  moral  caufe  of  anger. 

After  obferving  fallies  of  this  kind,  I  have  been 
led  into  a  melancholy  train  of  refledion  refped:- 
ing  females,   concluding  that  when  their  firll  af- 
fection muft  lead  them  aftray,  or  make  their  du- 
ties clafli  till  they  reft  on  mere  whims  and  cuf- 
toms,  little  can    be  expedted  from  them  as  they 
advance  in  life.     How  indeed  can   an  inllrudlor 
remedy  this  evil  ?  for  to  teach  them  virtue  on  any 
lolid  principle   is  to  teach  them  to  defpiic  their 
parents.    Children  cannot,  ought  not,  to  be  taught 
to  make  allowance  for  the  faults  of  their  parents, 
becaufe  every    fuch   allowance  weakens  the  force 
of  reafon  in    their  minds,   and   makes  them  ftill 
more  indulgent   to  their  own.     It  is  one  of  the 
moft  fublime  virtues  of  maturity  that  leads  us  to 
be  fevcre  with  refpedt  to  ourfelves,  and  forbearing 
to  others  ;  but    children   fliould  only   be  taught 
the  fimple  virtues,  for  if  they  begin  too  early  to 
make  allowance  for  human  pailions  and  manners, 
they  vv^ear  oft'the  fine  edge  of  the  criterion  by  which 
they  (liould  regulate  their  own,  and  become  un- 
juft  in  the  fame  proportion  as  they  grow  indulgent. 

The  affections  of  children,    and  weak  people, 
are  always  felfifli  •  they  love  others,  becaufe  oth- 
ers love  them,  and  not  on  account  of  their  .yir- 
tues.     Yet,  till  efteem  and  los'e  are  blended    to- 
gether in  the  firft  affed:ion,  and  reafon  made  the 
foundation  of  the  firft  duty,  morality  will  flum- 
ble  at  the   threOiold.     But,   tilt    fociety  is    very 
differently  conftituted,  parents,  I  fear,  will  ftill  in- 
j^fift  on  being  obeyed,  becaufe  they  will  be  obeyed, 
•  and  conftantly  endeavour  to  fettle  that  power  on 
'a  Divine  right  which  will  not  bear  the  inveftiga- 
tion  of  reaion,  CHAP, 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  -^^-js 


CHAP.      Xli, 


ON    NATIONAL    EDUCATION. 


Ti 


HE  good  efFedts  refaltlrig  from  attention 
to  private  education  will  ever  be  very  confined^ 
and  the  parent  who  really  puts  his  own  hand  to 
the  plow,  will  always,  in  fome  degree,  be  difap- 
pointed,  till  education  become  a  grand  national 
concern.  A  man  cannot  retire  into  adefartwith 
his  child,  and  if  he  did  he  could  not  bring  him- 
felf  back  to  childhood,  and  become  the  proper 
friend  and  play-fellow  of  an  infant  oryoiith.  And 
when  children  are  confined  to  the  fociety  of  men 
and  women,  they  very  foon  acquire  that  kind  of 
premature  manhood  which  ftops  the  growth  cyf 
every  vigorous  power  of  mind  or  body.  In  or- 
der to  open  their  faculties  they  fliould  be  excited 
to  think  for  themfelves  •  and  this  can  only  be 
done  by  mixing  a  number  of  children  together, 
and  making  them  jointly  purfue  the  fame  objeds. 
A  child  very  foon  contra^fls  a  benumbing  in- 
dolence of  mind,  which  he  has  feldom  fufficient 
vigour  afterwards  to  fliake  off,  when  he  only  afk'S 
a  queilion  inflead  of  fceking  for  information,  and 
then  relies  implicitly  on  the  anfwer  he  receives. 
With  his  equals  in  age  this  eould  never  be  the 
cafe,  and  the  fubje6ts  of  inquiry,  though  they 
might  be  influenced,-  would  not  be  entirely  under 
the  direction  of  men,  who  frequently  damp,  if 
not  deftroy,  abilities,  by  bringing  them  forwar<i 
too  hadily  :  and  too  hailily  they  will  infallibly 
^  2  b9 


l>>j(y         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

be  brought  forward,  if  the  child  be  confined  to 
the  fociety  of  a  man,  however  fagacious  that  man 
may  be. 

Belides,  in  youth  the  feeds  of  every  afFe(5tion 
/hould  be  fown,  and  the  refpedtful  regard,  which 
is  felt  for  a  parent,  is  very  different  from  the  fe- 
cial affedlions  that  are  to  conftitute  the  happinefs 
of  life  as  it  advances.  Of  thefe  equality  is  the 
bafis,  and  an  intercourfe  of  fentiments  unclogged 
by  that  obfervant  ferioufnefs  which  prevents  dif- 
putation,  though  it  may  not  enforce  fubmiffion. 
Let  a  child  have  ever  fuch  an  affedion  for  his 
parent,  he  will  always  languifh  to  play  and  chat 
with  children  3  and  the  very  refped:  which  he 
entertains,  for  filial  efteem  always  has  a  dafli  of 
fear  mixed  with  it,  will,  if  it  do  not  teach  him 
cunning,  at  leaft  prevent  him  from  pouring  out 
the  little  fecrets  which  firft  open  the  heart  to 
friendfhip  and  confidence,  gradually  leading  to 
more  expanfive  benevolence.  Added  to  this,  he 
will  never  acquire  that  frank  ingenuoufnefs  of 
behaviour,  which  young  people  can  only  attain 
by  being  frequently  in  fociety  where  they  dare  to 
fpeak  what  they  think ;  neither  afraid  of  being 
reproved  for  their  prefumption,  nor  laughed  at 
for  their  folly. 

Forcibly  imprefied  by  the  reflexions  which 
the  fight  of  fchools,  as  they  are  at  prefent  con- 
duced, naturally  fuggefled,  I  have  formerly  de- 
livered my  opinion  rather  warmly  in  favour  of  a 
private  education  ;  but  further  experience  has  led 
me  to  view  the  fubjedt  in  a  different  light.  I 
jftill,  however,  think  fchools,  as  they  are  now 
regulated,  the  hotbeds  of  vict  and  folly,  and  the 

*  knowledge 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN. 


277 


knowledge  of  human  nature,  iuppofed  to  be  at- 
tained there,  merely  cunning  felfiflinefs. 

At  fchool  boys  become  gluttons  and  flovens, 
and,  inftead  of  cultivating  domeftic  afFedlions,  ve- 
ry early  rufh  into  the  libertinifm  which  deflroys 
the  conflitution  before  it  is  formed  ;  hardening 
the  heart  as  it  weakens  the  underftanding. 

I  ihould,  in  fadt,  beaverfetoboarding-fchools, 
if  it  were  for  no  other  reafon  than  the  unfettled 
i>ate  of  mind  which  the  expedlation  of  the  vaca- 
tions produce.  On  thefe  the  children's  thoughts 
are  fixed  with  eager  anticipating  hopes,  for,  at 
leaft,  to  fpeak  with  moderation,  half  of  the  time, 
and  when  they  arrive  they  are  fpent  in  total  dilTi- 
pation  and  beaftly  indulgence. 

But,  on  the  contrary,  when  they  are  brought 
up  at  home,  though  they  may  purfue  a  plan  of 
ftudy  in  a  more  orderly  manner  than  can  bs 
adopted  when  near  a  fourth  part  of  the  year  is 
actually  fpent  in  idlcnefs,  and  as  much  more  in 
regret  and  anticipation  ;  yet  they  there  acquire 
too  high  an  opinion  of  their  own  importance, 
from  being  allowed  to  tyrannize  over  fervants, 
and  from  the  anxiety  exprcffed  by  moll  mothers, 
on  the  fcore  of  manners,  who,  eager  to  teach  the 
accomplifliments  of  a  gentleman,  ftifle,  in  their 
birth,  the  virtues  of  a  man.  Thus  brought  into 
company  when  they  ought  to  be  ferioufly  em- 
ployed, and  treated  like  men  when  they  are  flill 
boys,  they  become  vain  and  effeminate. 

The  only  way  to  avoid  two  extremes  equally 

injurious  to  morality,  would  be  to  contrive  fome 

way  of  combining  a  public  and  private  education. 

Thus  to  make  men  citizens  two   natural    fteps 

S  3  might 


278         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

might  hz  taken,  which  feem  diredly  to  lead  to 
the  delired  point  ;  for  the  domeftic  aftedions, 
that  firft  open  the  heart  to  the  various  modifica- 
tions of  humanity,  would  be  cultivated,  whilil 
the  children  were  neverthelefs  allowed  to  fpend 
great  part  of  their  time,  on  terms  of  equality, 
with  other  children. 

I  ftill  recolieft,  with  pleafure,  the  country  day 
fchool  ;  where  a  boy  trudged  in  the  morning,  wet 
or  dry,  carrying  his  books,  and  his  dinner,  if  it 
were  at  a  confiderable  diftance ;  a  fervant  did  not 
then  lead  mafler  by  the  hand,  for,  when  he  had  once 
put  on  coat  and  breeches,  he  was  allowed  to  (hift 
for  himfelf,  and  return  alone  in  the  evening  to 
recount  the  feats  of  the  day  clofe  at  the  parental 
knee.  His  father's  houfe  was  his  home,  and  was 
ever  after  fondly  remembered  ;  nay,  I  appeal  to 
fome  fuperiour  men,  who  were  educated  in  this 
manner,  whether  the  recoUetftion  of  fome  fliady 
lane  where  they  conned  their  lefTon  ;  or,  of  fome 
fiile,  where  they  fat  making  a  kite,  or  mending 
a  bat,  has  not  endeared  their  country  to  them  ? 

But,  what  boy  ever  recolledted  with  pleafure 
the  years  he  fpent  in  clofe  confinement,  at  an 
academy  near  London  ?  unlefs,  indeed,  hefhould, 
by  chance,  remember  the  poor  fcarecrow  of  an 
ufhcr,  whom  he  torm.ented  ;  or,  the  tartman, 
from  whom  he  caught  a  cake,  to  devour  it  with 
the  cattifh  appetite  of  feiiiflmefs.  At  boarding- 
fchools  of  every  defcription,  the  relaxation  of  the 
junior  boys  is  mifchief ;  and  of  the  fenior,  vice. 
Befides,  in  great  fchools,  what  can  be  more  pre- 
judicial to  the  moral  character  than  the  fyftcm  of 
fyranny  and  abjefl  llavery   which   is  eftablilhed 

amongft 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN. 


279 


a^iongfl  the  boys,  to  fay  nothing  of  the  flavery 
to  forms,  which  makes  religion  worfe  than  a 
farce  ?  For  what  good  can  be  cxpe<fled  from  the 
youth  who  receives  the  facrament  of  the  Lord's 
fupper,  to  avoid  forfeiting  half  a  guinea,  which 
he  probably  afterwards  fpends  in  fome  fenfual 
manner  ?  Half  the  employment  of  the  youths  i? 
to  elude  the  neceffity  of  attending  public  wor- 
ship ;  and  well  they  may,  for  fuch  a  conflant  re-y 
petition  of  the  f  ime  thing  muft  be  a  very  irkfome 
reftraint  on  their  natural  vivacity.  As  thefe  ce- 
remonies have  the  moft  fatal  efFe6t  on  their  mo- 
rals, and  as  a  ritual  performed  by  the  lips,  when 
the  heart  and  mind  are  far  away,  is  not  now  ftor- 
ed  up  by  our  church  as  a  bank  to  draw  on  for 
the  fees  of  the  poor  fouls  in  purgatory,  why 
fliould  they  not  be  abolifhcd  ?  . 

But  the  fear  of  innovation.   In   this    country, 
extends  to   every  thing. — This  is  only  a  covert 
fear,  the  apprehenfive  timidity  of  indolent  flugs, 
who  guard,  by  lliming  it  over,    the   fnug   place, 
which  they  confider  in  the  light  of  an  hereditary 
cflate  ;  and  eat,  drink,  and  enjoy  themfelves,    in- 
ilead  of  fuliilling  the  duties,  excepting  a  few  emp- 
ty forms,   for   which  it  was   endowed.     Thefe 
are  the  people  who  mofl  ftrenuoiifly  infifl  on  the 
will  of  the  founder  being  obferved,   crying  out 
againft  all  reformation,  as  if  it  were  a  violation  of 
juftice.     I  aa:i  now  alluding  particularly  to  the 
relicks  of  popery  retained  in  our  colleges,  when 
the  proteftant  members  feem  to  be  fuch  fticklers 
for  the  eftabli{l:icd  church  ;  but  their  zeal  never 
fnakes  them  lofe  fight  of  the  fpoil  of  ignorance, 
which  rapacious  priefts  of  fuperftitious  memory 
S  ±  havq 


28o        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

have  fcraped  together.  No,  wife  in  their  gene- 
ration, they  venerate  the  prefcriptive  right  of 
pofleflion,  as  a  ftrong  hold,  and  ftill  let  theflug- 
gifh  bell  tinkle  to  prayers,  ^  during  the  days 
when  the  elevation  of  tne  hoft  was  fuppofed  to 
atbh^  for  the  fins  of  the  people,  left  one  reforma- 
tion fhould  lead  to  another,  and  the  fpirit  kill  the 
letter.  Thefe  Romifli  cuftoms  have  the  moft 
baneful  effedl  on  the  morals  of  olir  clergy  ;  for 
the  idle  veririin  who  two  or  three  times  a  day 
perform  in  the  moft  flovenly  manner  a  fervice 
■which  they  think  ufelefs,  but  call  their  duty, 
foor^  lofe  a  fenfe  of  duty.  At  college,  forced  to 
attend  or  evade  public  Worftiip,  they  acquire  an 
habitual  contempt  for  the  very  fervice,  the  per- 
formance of  which  is  to  enable  them  to  live  in 
idlenefs.  It  is  mumbled  over  as  an  affair  of  bu^ 
iiiiefs,  as  a  ftupid  boy  repeats  his  tafk,  and  fre- 
quently the  college  cant  efcapes  from  the  preach- 
er the  moment  after  he  has  left  the  pulpit,  and 
evei^  whilft  he  is  eating  the  dinner  which  he 
eai-ned  in  fuch  a  difhoneft  manner. 

Nothing,  indeed,  can  be  more  irreverent  than 
the  cathedral  fervice  as  it  is  now  performed  in 
this  country,  nor  does  it  contain  a  fet  of  weaker 
men  than  thofe  who  are  the  flaves  of  this  childifti 
routine.  A  dilgufting  ilceleton  of  the  former 
ftate  is  ftill  exhibited  ;  but  all  the  folemnity  that 
intercfted  the  imagination,  if  it  did  not  purify  the 
heart,  is  ftripped  off.  The  performance  of  high 
mafs  on  the  continent  muft  imprefs  every  mind, 
where  a  fpark  of  fancy  glows,  with  that  awful 
pielancholy,  that  fublime  tendernefs,  fo  near  akin 
t9  devotion.     I  do  not  fay  that  thefe   devotional 

feelings 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  28-1 

feelings  are  of  more  life,  in  a  moral  fenfe,  than 
any  other  emotion  of  tafte  ;  but  I  contend  that 
the  theatrical  pomp  which  gratifies  our  fenfes,  is 
to  be  preferred  to  the  cold  parade  that  infults  the 
underftanding  without  reaching  the  heart. 

Amongft  remarks  on  national  education,  fuch 
obfervations  cannot  be  mifplaced,  efpecially  as 
the  fupporters  of  thefe  eftablifhments,  degenera- 
ted into  pueriHties,  afFecft  to  be  the  champions  cjf 
religion. — Religion,  pure  fource  of  comfort  in 

'this  vale  of  tears  !  how  has  thy  clear  ftream  been 
muddied  by  the  dabblers,  who  have  prefumptu- 
ouily  endeavoured  to  confine  in  one  narrow  chan- 
nel, the  living  v/aters  that  ever  flow  towards  God 
'■ — the  fublime  ocean  of  exiftcnce  !  What  would 
life  be  without  that  peace  which  the  love  of  God, 
when  built  on  humanity,  alone  can  impart  ?  Eve- 
ry earthly  affedion  turns  back,  at  intervals,  to  prey 
upon-  the  heart  that  feeds  it  ;  and  the  pureft  ef- 
fufions  of  benevolence,  often  rudely  damped  by 

"tiian,  mufl  mxount  as  a  free-wqll  offering  to  Him 
who  gave  them  birth,  whofe  bright  image  they 
faintly  reflc(ft. 

In  public  fchools,  however,  religion,  confound- 
ed with  irkfome  ceremonies  and  unreafonable  re- 
ilraints,  alTumes  the  moft  ungracious  afped;  :  not 
the  fober  auftere  one  that  commands  refpect 
whilfl:  it  infpires  fear  3  but  a  ludicrous  call,  that 
ferves  to  point  a  pun.  For,  in  fa(5l,  mod  of  the 
good  ilories  and  fmart  things  Vv^hich  enliven  the 
fpirits  that  have  been  concentrated  at  whifl:,  are 
manufadlured  out  of  the  incidents  to  which  the 
very  men  labour  to  give  a  droll  turn  who  coun- 
tenance the  abufe  to  live  on  the  fpoil. 

There 


282        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

There  is  not,  perhaps,  in  the  kingdom,  a  more 
tiogmatical,  or  luxurious  let  of  men,  than  the  pe- 
dantic tyrants  who  refide  in  colleges  and  preiide 
at  public  fchools.  The  vacations  are  equally  in- 
jurious to  the  morals  of  the  mailers  and  pupils, 
and  the  intercourfe,  which  the  former  keep  up 
with  the  nobility,  introduces  the  lame  vanity  and 
extravagance  into  their  families,  which  banifh 
domcftic  duties  and  comforts  from  the  lordly 
manfion,  whofe  flate  is  awkwardly  aped  on  a 
fmallcr  fcale.  The  boys,  who  live  at  a  great  ex- 
penfe  with  the  mafters  and  afliilants,  arc  never 
domefticatcd,  though  placed  there  for  that  pur- 
poic  3  for,  after  a  filent  dinner,  they  fvvallow  a 
hafty  glafs  of  wine,  and  retire  to  plan  fome  mif- 
chievous  trick,  or  to  ridicule  the  perfon  or  man- 
ners of  the  very  people  they  have  juft  been  cring- 
ing to,  and  whom  they  ought  to  confider  as  the 
rcprefentatives  of  their  parents. 

Can  it  then  be  a  matter  of  furprife  that  boys 
become  fellifh  and  vicious  who  are  thus  ihut  out 
from  focial  converfe  ?  or  that  a  mitre  often  gra- 
ces the  brow  of  one  of  thefe  diligent  paflors  ? 

The  defire  of  living  in  the  fame  ftyle,  as  the 
rank  jufl  above  them,  infeds  each  individual  and 
every  clafs  of  people,  and  meannefs  is  the  con- 
comitant of  this  ignoble  ambition  ;  but  thofe 
profeiTions  arc  mod  debafing  v^^hofe  ladder  is  pa- 
tronage :  yet,  out  of  one  of  thefe  profefhons  the 
tutors  of  youth  are,  in  general,  chofen.  But, 
can  they  be  expe(5led  to  infpire  independent  fen- 
timents,  whofe  conduct  mufl  be  regulated  by  the 
cautious  prudence  that  is  ever  on  the  watch  for 
preferment  ? 


RIGHTS  OF  WOxMAN.  283 

So  far,  however,  from  thinking  of  the  morals 
of  boys,  I  have  heard  feveral  mafters  of  fchools 
argue,  that  they  only  undertook  to  teach  Latin 
and  Greek ;  and  that  they  had  fulfilled  their  du- 
ty, by  fending  fome  good  fcholars  to  college. 

A  few  good  fcholars,  T  grant,  may  have  been 
formed  by  emulation  and  difcipline;  but  to  bring 
forv/ard  thefe  clever  boys,  the  health  and  morals 
of  a  number  have  been  facrificed.  ♦•The  fons  of 
our  gentry  and  wealthy  commonei^s  are  moftly 
educated  at  thefe  feminaries,  and  will  any  one  pre- 
tend to  alTert  that  the  majority,  making  every  al- 
lowance, come  under  the  defcription  of  tolerable 
fcholars  ? 

It  is  not  for  the  benefit  of  focicty  that  a  few 
brilliant  men  lliould  be  brought  forward  at  the 
expenfe  of  the  multitude.  It  is  true,  that  great 
men  feern  to  flart  up,  as  great  revolutions  occur, 
at  proper  intervals,  to  reflore  order,  and  to  blovi'- 
afide  the  clouds  that  thicken  over  the  face  of 
truth  ;  but  let  more  reafon  and  virtue  prevail  in 
fociety,  and  thefe  ftrong  winds  would  not  be  ne- 
cefiary.  Public  education,  of  every  denomina- 
tion, fliould  be  dire<£led  to  form  citizens  ;  but  if 
you  wi(h  to  make  good  citizens,  you  mufl  firft 
cxercife  the  aifeclions  of  a  fon  and  a  brother. 
This  is  the  only  way  to  expand  the  heart ;  for 
public  afteftions,  as  well  as  public  virtues,  muft 
ever  a^row  out  of  the  private  charadler,  or  thev  are 
merely  meteors  that  dioot  athv/art  a  dark  iky  and 
difappear  a  •  they  are  gazed  at  and  admired. 

Few,  I  believe,  have  had  much  affcdicn  for 
mankind,  v^ho  did  not  firft  love  their  parents, 
their   brothers,    fillers,  and   even    the  domeftic 

biutes;. 


2^4        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

fcrutes,  whom  they  firft  played  with.  The  ex- 
rcrcife  of  youthful  fympathies  forms  the  moral 
temperature  ;  and  it  is  the  recolledion  of  thefe 
iirll  affections  and  purfuits  that  gives  life  to  thofc 
that  are  -afterwards  more  under  the  diredlion  of 
/reafon.  In  youth,  the  fondefl  friendfliios  are 
formed,  the  genial  juices  mounting  at  the  fame 
time,  kindly  mix  ;  or,  rather  the  heart,  tempered 
for  the  recejftion  of  friendihip,  is  accuftomed  to 
yfeek  for  pieafure  in  fomething  more  noble  than 
-the  churlilh  gratification  of  appetite. 

In  order  then  to  infpire  a  love  of  home  and  do- 
-meftic  pieafure?,  children  ought  to  be  educated  at 
home,  for  riotous  holidays  only  make  them  fond 
of  home  for  their  own  fakes.  Yet,  the  vaca- 
tions, which,  do  not  fofler  domeftic  affedions, 
continually  difturb  the  courfe  of  (ludy,  and  ren- 
der any  plan  of  improvement  abortive  which  in- 
cludes temperance  ;  flill,  were  they  abolilhed, 
children  would  be  entirely  feparated  from  their 
parents,  and  I  queftion  whether  they  would  be- 
came better  citizens  by  facrificing  the  preparato- 
ry affcdlions,  by  deftroying  the  force  of  relation- 
fhips  that  render  the  marriage  ftate  as  neceffary  as 
refpedable.  But,  if  a  private  education  produces 
felf-importance,  or  infulates  a  man  in  his  fatnily, 
the  evil  is  only  fhifted,  not  remedied. 

This  train  of  reafoning  brings  me  back  to  a 
fubjeil',  on  which  I  mean  to  dwell,  the  necelTity 
of  eftabli filing  proper  day-fchools. 

But,  thefe   fhould  be  national  eftablidiments, 
for  whilft    fchool-raafters   are  dependent  on  the 
caprice  of  parents,  little  exertion  can  be  expe^fted 
from  them,    more  than  is  neceflary  to  pleaie  ig- 
norant 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  28^5 

norant  people.  Indeed,  the  neceflity  of  a  maf- 
tcr's  giving  the  parents  feme  fample  of  the  boys 
abilities,  which  during  the  vacation  is  fliewn  to 
every  vifitor*,  is  productive  of  more  mifchief 
than  would  at  firil  be  fuppofed.  For  they  are 
feldom  done  entirely,  to  fpeak  with  moderation, 
by  the  child  itfelf  ;  thus  the  mafler  countenances 
falfehood,  or  winds  the  poor  machine  up  to  fome 
extraordinary  exertion,  that  injures  the  wheels, 
and  flops  the  progrefs  of  gradual  improvement- 
The  memory  is  loaded  with  unintelligible  words, 
to  make  a  ihew  of,  without  the  underftanding's 
acquiring  any  diftind  ideas  :  but  only  that  edu- 
cation deferves  emphatically  to  be  termed  culti- 
vation of  mind,  which  teaches  young  people  how 
to  begin  to  think.  The  imagination  fliould  not 
be  allowed  to  debauch  the  underllanding  before 
it  gained  ftiength,  or  vanity  will  become  the 
forerunner  of  vice  :  for  e^'ery  way  of  exhibiting 
the  acquirements  of  a  child  is  injurious  to  its 
moral  chara(5ter. 

How  much  time  is  loft  in  teaching  them  to 
recite  what  they  do  not  underftand  ?  whilft  feat- 
ed  on  benches,  all  in  their  bell  array,  the  mam- 
mas liften  with  ailonifhment  to  the  parrot-like 
prattle,  uttered  in  folemn  cadences,  with  all  the 
pomp  of  ignorance  and  folly.  Such  exhibitions 
only  ferve  to  ftrike  the  fpreading  fibres  of  vanity 
through  the  whole  mind  ;  for  they  neither  teach 
children  to  fpeak  fluently,  nor  behave  gracefully:. 
So  far  from  it,  that  thefe  frivolous  purfuits  migh> 
comprehenfively  be  termed  the  Hudy  of  affeda- 

tion  ; 

•  I  now  panlcularly  allude  to  the  numerous  academies  in,  nnd  ahov.t 
London,  and  to  th;  behaviour  of  the  tiading  pan  of  ih;.';  ^f^at  ciiy. 


^U        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

tion  ;  for  we  now' rarely  fee  a  limple,  bafhfiil  boy, 
though  few  people  of  tafte  were  ever  difguftcd 
by  that  awkward  llieepillinefs  fo  natural  to  the 
age,  which  fchools  and  an  early  introduction  into 
fociety,  have  changed  into  impudence  and  apilli 
grimace. 

Yet,  how  can  thefe  thinp;s  be  remedied  whilfl 
fchool-mafters  depend  entirely  on  parents  for  a 
fubfiftence  ;  and  when  fo  many  rival  fchools 
hang  out  their  lures,  to  catch  the  attention  of 
vain  fathers  and  mothers,  whofe  parental  affec- 
tion only  leads  them  to  wifb  that  their  children 
fhould  outfhine  thofe  of  their  neighbours  ? 

Without  great  good  luck,  a  fenfible,  confcien- 
tious  man,  would  ftarve  before  he  could  raife  a 
fchool,  if  he  difdained  to  bubble  weak  parents  by 
pradtifmg  the  fecret  tricks  of  the  craft. 

In  the  beft  regulated  fchools,  hov/everj  whers 
fwarms  are  not  crammed  together,  many  bad 
habits  muft  be  acquired  ;  but,  at  common  fchools ^ 
the  body,  heart,  and  underflanding,  are  equally 
ftunted,  for  parents  are  often  only  in  quefhof  the 
cheapefl  fchool,  and  the  mafter  could  not  live", 
if  he  did  not  take  a  much  greater  number  than 
he  could  manage  himfelf;  nor  will  the  fcanty 
pittance,  allowed  for  each  child,  permit  him  to 
hire  urtiers  fufficient  to  afliil  in  the  difcharge  of 
the  mechanical  part  of  the  buiinefs.  Bcfides-, 
whatever  appearance  the  houfe  and  garden  may 
make,  the  children  do  not  enjoy  the  comfort  of 
cither,  for  they  are  continually  reminded  by  irk- 
fome  reftriclions  that  they  are  not  at  home,  and 
the  ftate-rooms,  garden,  Sec.  mull  be  kept  in  or-^ 
der  for  the  recreation  of  the  parents  5  who,-  of  3 

Sunday* 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  287 


Sunday,  vifit  the  fchool,  and  are  imprefled  by  the 
very  parade  that  renders  the  fituation  of  their  chil- 
dren uncomfortable. 

With  what  difguft  have  I  heard  feniible  wo- 
men, for  girls  are  more  reftrained  and  cowed  than 
boys,  fpeak  of  the  wearifome  confinement,  which 
they  endured  at  fchool.  Not  allowed,  perhaps^ 
to  ftep  out  of  one  broad  walk  in  a  fuberb  garden, 
and  obliged  to  pace  with  fteady  deportment  stu- 
pidly backwards  and  forwards,  holding  up  their 
heads  and  turning  out  their  toes,  with  fhoulders 
braced  back,  inflead  of  bounding,  as  nature  di- 
redls  to  complete  her  own  defign,  in  the  various 
attitudes  fo  conducive  to  health  *.  The  pure 
animal  fpirits,  which  make  both  mind  and  body 
fhoot  out,  and  unfold  the  tender  bloifoms  of  hope, 
are  turned  four,  and  vented  in  vain  wiflies,  or 
pert  rep'inings,  that  contract  the  faculties  and 
fpoil  the  temper;  elfe  they  mount  to  the  brain, 
and  fharpening  the  underftanding  before  it  gains 
proportionable  ftrength,  produce  that  pitiful  cun- 
ning which  difgracefully  characterizes  the  female 
mind — and  I  fear  will  ever  characterize  it  whilfl 
women  remain  the  flaves  of  power  ! 

The 


*  I  reirlember  a  circiirriftance  that  onte  came  under  my  own  obfervaiion, 
and  raifed  my  indignation.  I  wtnt  to  vifit  a  little  boy  at  a  fchool  where 
young  ckildren  were  prepaied  for  a  larger  one.  The  mafter  took  me  into 
»he  fchool-room,  Sec.  but  whilft  I  walked  down  a  broad  gravel  walk,  t 
could  net  help  obferving  th:\t  the  grafs  grew  very  luxuriantly  on  each  iide 
of  me.  I  immediately  afked  the  child  fome  queltions,  and  found  that  the 
poor  boys  wtre  hot  allowtd  to  ftirofFthe  walK,  and  that  the  mafter  foni?' 
limes  permitted  flieep  to  be  turned  in  to  crop  the  untrodden  grafs.  The  ty- 
rant of  this  domain  ufed  to  Ht  by  a  window  that  overlooked  the  prifon  yard, 
and  one  nook  turning  from  it,  where  the  unfortunate  babes  could  fpoii 
freely,  he  encloied,  and  planted  it  with  potatoes.  The  wife  likcwife  wa? 
equally  anxious  to  keep  the  childrtn  in  order,  leit  they  lbauldd>rty  or  taar 
liicir  dctho. 


288        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

The  little  refpcd;  which  the  male  world  pay- 
to  chartity  is,  I  am  pcrfuaded,  the  grand  fource 
of  many  of  the  phyfical  and  moral  evils  that  tor- 
ment mankind,  as  well  as  of  the  vices  and  follies 
that  degrade  and  deftroy  women  ;  yet  at  fchool, 
boys  infallibly  lofc  that  decent  baflifulnefs, 
which  might  have  ripened  into  modefty,  at 
Lome. 

And  what  nafly  indecent  tricks  do  they  alfa 
learn  from  each  other,  when  a  number  of  them 
pig  together  in  the  fame  bedchamber,  not  to  fpeak 
of  the  vices,  which  render  the  body  weak  whilft 
they  effed:ually  prevent  the  acquifition  of  any  del- 
icacy of  mind.  The  little  attention  paid  to  the 
cultivation  of  modefly,  amongft  men,  produces 
great  depravity  in  all  the  relation  (hips  of  fociety  ; 
for,  not  only  love — love  that  ought  to  purify  the 
heart,  and  firft  call  forth  all  the  youthful  powers, 
to  prepare  the  man  to  difcharge  the  benevolent 
duties  of  life,  is  facrificed  to  premature  luft  ;  but, 
all  the  focial  affecflions  are  deadened  by  the  felfifli 
gratifications,  which  very  early  pollute  the  mind, 
and  dry  up  the  generous  juices  of  the  heart.  In 
what  an  unnatural  m.anner  is  innocence  often  vi- 
olated ;  and  what  ferious  confequences  enfue  to 
render  private  vices  a  public  pelt.  Beiides,  an 
habit  of  perfonal  order,  which  has  more  effe61:  on 
the  moral  character,  than  is,  in  general,  fuppofed, 
can  only  be  acquired  at  home,  where  that  refped:- 
able  referve  is  kept  up  which  checks  the  familiar- 
ity, that  fmking  into  beaftlincfs,  undermines  the 
affedtion  it  infults. 

I  have  already  animadverted  on  the  bad  habits 
which  females  acquire  when  they  arc  fhut  up  to- 
gether ; 


RiaHTS  OP  WOMAN.  22g: 

gether  i  and,  I  think,  that  the  obfervation  may 
fairly  be  extended  to  the  other  fex,  till  the  natural 
inference  is  drawn  which  I  have  had  in  view 
throughout — that  to  improve  both  fexes'  they' 
ought,  not  only  in  private  families,  but  in  public 
fchools,  to  be  educated  together*  If  marriage  be 
the  cement  of  fociety,  mankind  fhould  all  be  ed- 
ucated after  the  fame  model,  or  the  intercourfe  of^ 
the  fexes  will  never  deferve  the  name  of  fellow- 
ihip,  nor  will  women  ever  fulfil  the  peculiar  du- 
ties of  their  fex,  till  they  become  enlightened 
citizens,  till  they  become  free  by  being  enabled 
to  earn  their  own  fubfiftence,  independent  of 
men  ;  in  the  fame  manner,  I  mean,  to  prevent 
mifcWftru(5lion,  as  one  man  is  independent  of 
another.  Nay,  marriage  will  never  be  held  fa- 
cred  till  women,  by  being  brought  up  withmen^ 
are  prepared  to  be  their  companions  rather  thaa 
their  miftreffes  j  for  the  mean  doublings  of  cun-* 
ning  will  ever  render  them  contemptible,  whilft 
oppreflion  renders  them  timid.  So  convinced  am 
I  of  this  truth,  that  I  will  venture  to  predid:  that 
virtue  will  never  prevail  in  fociety  till  the  virtues 
of  both  fexes  are  founded  on  reafon  ;  and,  till  the 
affections  common  to  both  are  allowed  to  gaia 
their  due  ftrength  by  the  difcharge  of  mutual  du-* 
ties. 

Were  boys  and  girls  permitted  to  purfue  the 
fame  lludies  together,  thofe  graceful  decencies 
might  early  be  inculcated  which  produce  modef- 
ty  without  thofe  fexual  diflindions  that  taint  the 
mind.  LelTons  of  politenefs,  and  that  formulary 
of  decorum,  which  treads  on  the  heels  of  falfe- 
hood,  would  be  rendered  ufelefs  by  habitual  pro* 
T  priety 


296        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

priety  of  behaviour.  Not  indeed,  put  on  for  vr- 
litors  like  the  courtly  robe  of  politenefs,  but  the 
fober  cffedt  of  eleanlinefs  of  mind.  Would  not 
this  fimple  elegance  of  fincerity  be  a  ehafte  hom- 
age paid  to  don^eftic  affedions,  far  furpaffing  the 
meretricious  compliments  that  fliine  with  falfe 
luftre  in  the  heartlefs  intercourie  of  fafliionable 
life  ?  But,  till  more  underftanding  preponderate 
in  fociety,.  there  will  ever  be  a  want  of  heart  and 
tafte,  and  the  harlot's  rouge  will  fupply  the  place- 
of  that  celeftial  fufFufion  which  only  virtuous  af- 
fe(5lions  can  give  to  the  face.  Gallantry,  and 
what  is  called  love,  may  fubfift  without  fimplici- 
ty  of  character ;  but  the  main  pillars  of  friend- 
fhip,  are  refpedt  and  confrdence — efteem  is  never 
founded  on  it  cannot  tell  what  ! 

A  tafte  for  the  fine  arts  requires  great  cultiva- 
tion ;  but  not  more  than  a  tafte  for  the  virtuous 
afFe(3:ions  ;  and  both  fuppole  that  enlargement  of 
mind  which  opens  fo  many  iburces  of  mental 
pleafure.  Why  do  people  hurry  to  noify  fcenes, 
and  crowded  circles  I  I  fhould  anfwer,  becaufe 
they  want  activity  of  mindy  becaufe  they  have  not 
cheriflied  the  virtues  of  the  heart.  They  only^ 
therefore,  fee  and  feel  in  the  gFofs>  arrd  continu- 
ally pine  after  variety,  finding  every  thing  that  is 
fimple  infipid. 

This  argument  may  be  carried  furthertiTan  phi- 
lofophers  are  aware  of,  for  if  nature  del^ined  wo- 
man, in  particular,  for  the  difcharge  of  domeftie 
duties,  (he  made  her  fufceptible  of  the  attached 
affedions  in  a  great  degree.  Now  women  aro 
notorioufly  fond  of  pleafure  ;  and,  naturally  muft 
be  fo   according  to   my  definition,   becaufe  they 

caunot 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  291 

cannot  enter  into  the  minutiae  of  domeftic  tafle  ; 
lacking  judgment,  the  foundation  of  all  tafte* 
For  the  underflanding,  in  fpite  of  fcnfual  cavil- 
lers, referves  to  itfelf  the  privilege  of  conveying 
pure  joy  to  theheart. 

With  what  a  languid  yawn  have  I  feen  an  ad- 
mirable poem  thrown  down,  that  a  man  of  true 
tafte  returns  to,  again  and  again  with  rapture  ; 
and,  whilft  melody  has  almoft  fufpendcd  refpira- 
tion,  a  lady  has  afked  me  where  I  bought  my  gown. 
I  have  {ecn  alfo  an  eye  glanced  coldly  over  a  moil 
cxquifite  picfture,  reft,  fparkling  with  pleafure,  on 
a  caricature  rudely  llcetched  ;  and  whilft  fome 
terrific  feature  in  nature  has  fpread  a  fublime  ftill- 
nefs  through  my  foul,  I  have  been  defired  to  ob- 
ferve  the  pretty  tricks  of  a  lap-dog,  that  my  per- 
verfe  fate  forced  me  to  travel  with.  Is  it  fur- 
prifing  that  fuch  a  taftelefs  being  fhould  rather 
carefs  this  dog  than  her  children  ?  Or,  that  fhe 
fhould  prefer  the  rant  of  flattery  to  the  fimple 
accents  of  fincerity  ? 

To  illuftrate  this  remark  I  mufl:  be  allowed  to 
obferve,  that  men  of  the  firft  genius  and  moft 
cultivated  minds,  have  appeared  to  have  the  high- 
eft  relifti  for  the  fimple  beauties  of  nature  j  and 
they  muft  have  forcibly  felt,  what  they  have  fo 
well  defcribed,  the  charm,  which  natural  aftec- 
tions,  and  unfophifticated  feelings  fpread  round 
the  human  charadter.  It  is  this  power  of  look- 
ing into  the  heart,  and  refponfively  vibrating  with 
each  emotion,  that  enables  the  poet  to  perfonify 
each  palTion,  and  the  painter  to  fketch  with  a 
pencil  of  fire. 

T  2  True 


59^        VTNDrCATION  OF  THE 

True  tafte  is  ever  the  work  of  the  underflanci-- 
ing  employed  in  obfcrving  natural  efFed:s  ;  and 
till  women  have  more  underftanding,  it  is  vain 
to  exped:  them  to  poflefs  domeftic  taftc.  Their 
lively  fenfes  will  ever  be  at  work  to  harden  their 
hearts,  and  the  emotions  ftruck  out  of  them  will 
continue  to  be  vivid  and  tranfitory,  unlefs  a  pro- 
per education  flores  their  mind  with  knowledge. 

It  is  the  want  of  domeftic  tafte,  and  not  the 
acquirement  of  knowledge^  that  takes  women 
out  of  their  families,  and  tears  the  fmiling  babe 
from  the  breaft  that  ought  to  afford  it  nouriih-^ 
ment.  Women  have  been  allowed  to  remain  in 
ignorance,  and  flavifh  dependence,  many,  very 
many  years,  and  ftill  we  hear  of  nothing  but  their 
fondnefs  of  pleafure  and  fway,  their  preference  of 
rakes  and  foldiers,  their  childifh  attachments  to- 
toys,  and  the  vanity  that  makes  them  value  ac- 
eomplifhments  more  than  virtues. 

Hiftory  brings  forward  a  fearful  catalogue  of 
the  crimes  which  their  cunning  has  produced^ 
when  the  weak  flaves  have  had  fufficient  addrels 
to  overreach  their  mafters.  In  France,  and  in 
how  many  other  countries,  have  men  been  the 
luxurious  defpots,  and  women  the  crafty  minif- 
ters  ? — Does  this  prove  that  ignorance  and  de- 
pendence domefticate  them  ?  Is  not  their  folly 
the  bv-word  of  the  libertines^  who  relax  in  their 
fociety  j  and  do  not  men  of  ienfe  continually  la-' 
ment  that  an  immoderate  fondnefs  for  drefs  and 
dilTipation  carries  the  mother  of  a  family  for  ever 
from  home.  Their  hearts  have  not  been  debauched 
by  knowledge,  nor  their  minds  ledaftray  by  fcien- 
ti^c  purfuits  ;  yet,  they  do  not  fulfil  the  pecu- 
liar 


RIGHTS  OF  WOiMAN.  29;^ 

liar  duties  which  as  women  they  are  called  upon 
by  nature  to  fulfil.  On  the  contrary,  the  ftate 
of  warfare  which  fubfifts  between  the  fexes, 
makei  them  employ  thofe  wiles,  that  fruftrate  the 
more  open  defigns  of  force. 

When,  therefore,  I  call  women  Haves,  I  mean 
in  a  political  and  civil  fenie  ;  for,  indiredlly  they 
obtain  too  much  power,  and  are  debafcd  by  their 
exertions  to  obtain  illicit  fway. 

Let  an  enlightened  nation  *  then  try  what  ef- 
fed  reafon  woidd  have  to  bring  them  back  to  na- 
tare,  and  their  duty  5  and  allowing  them  to  fharc 
the  advantages  of  education  and  government  with 
man,  fee  whether  they  will  become  better,  as 
they  grow  wifer  and  become  free.  They  cannot 
be  injured  by  the  experiment  ;  for  it  is  not  in  the 
power  of  man  to  render  tliem  more  infignificant 
than  they  areatprefent. 

To  render  this  practicable,  day  fchools,  for 
particular  ages,  fliould  be  eftabliflied  by  govern- 
ment, in  which  boy«  and  girls  might  be  educated 
together.  The  fchool  for  the  younger  children, 
from  five  to  nine  years  of  age,  ought  to  be  abfo- 
lutely  free  and  open  to  all  clafTes-f'.  A  fufficient 
number  of  mafters  fhould  alfo  bechofen  by  a  feled: 
committee,  in  each  parifli,  to  whom  any  com- 
plaint of  negligence,  &c.  might  be  made,  if  iign- 
ed  by  fix  of  the  children's  parents. 

Ufliers  would  then  be  unnecefiary  j  for  I  be- 
lieve experience  will  ever  prove  that  this  kind  of 
Subordinate  authority  is  particularly  injurious  to 
T  3  the 

*  France. 

t  Treating  this  part  of  the  fubjeft,  I  have  borrowed  fome  hints  from  a 
very  fenfible  i)amphletj  written  by  t^c  la«  bifi\op  of  Awtwn  oa  Pvibli* 
^(lucatioti. 


294        VINDICATION  OP  THE 

the  morals  of  youth.  What,  indeed,  can  tend 
to  deprave  the  charader  more  than  outward  fub- 
mifTion  and  inward  contempt  ?  Yet  how  can  boys 
be  expected  to  treat  an  ulher  with  refpe<5t,  when 
the  mailer  feems  to  confider  him  in  the  light  of 
a  fervant,  and  almoft  to  countenance  the  ridicule 
which  becomes  the  chief  amufemcnt  of  the  boys 
during  the  play  hours. 

But  nothing  of  this  kind  could  occur  in  an 
elementary  day  fchool,  where  boys  and  girls,  the 
rich  and  poor,  fhould  meet  together.  And  to 
prevent  any  of  the  diflinilions  of  vanity,  they 
ihould  be  drefled  alike,  and  all  obliged  to  fubmit 
to  the  fame  difcipline,  or  leave  the  fchool.  The 
fchool -room  ought  to  be  furrounded  by  a  large 
piece  of  ground,  in  which  the  children  might  be 
ufefully  exercifed,  for  at  this  age  they  fliould  not 
be  confined  to  any  fedentary  employment  for  more 
than  an  hour  at  a  time.  But  thefe  relaxations 
might  all  be  rendered  a  part  of  elementary  educa- 
tion, for  many  things  improve  and  amufe  the 
fenfes,  when  introduced  as  a  kind  of  fhow,  to  the 
principles  of  which,  dryly  laid  down,  children 
would  turn  a  deaf  ear.  For  inftance,  botany, 
mechanics,  and  aflronomy.  Reading,  writing, 
arithmetic,  natural  hiftory,  and  fome  limple  ex- 
periments in  natural  philofophy,  might  fill  up 
the  day  ;  but  thefe  purfuits  fliould  never  en- 
croach on  gymnaftic  plays  in  the  open  air.  The 
elements  of  religion,  hifiory,  the  hiftory  of  man, 
and  politics,  might  alfo  be  taught,  by  converfa- 
tions»  in  the  focratic  form. 

After  the  age  of  nine,  girls  and  boys,  intended 
for  domeflic  employments,  or  mechanical  trades, 

ouglit 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  295 

■ouslit  to  be  removed  to  other  fchools,  and  re- 
jceive  infl:ru<5tion,  in  fome  meafure  appropriated 
to  the  deftination  of  each  individual,  the  two  fex- 
es  being  ftill  together  in  the  morning  ;  but  in 
the  afternoon,  the  girls  fhould  attend  a  fchool, 
where  plain-work,  mantua-making,  millinery, 
&c.  would  be  their  employment. 

The  young  people  of  fuperiour  abilities,  or  for- 
tune, might  now  be  taught  in  another  fchool, 
the  dead  and  living  languages,  the  elements  of 
fcience,  and  continue  the  ftudy  of  hiftory  and 
politics,  on  a  more  extcnfive  fcale,  which  would 
not  exclude  polite  literature. 

Girls  and  boys  flill  together  ?  I  hear  fome  read- 
ers aik  :  yes.  And  I  fhould  not  fear  any  other 
confequence  than  that  fome  early  attachment 
might  take  place  ;  which,  whilil  it  had  the  befl 
effect  on  the  moral  ch'ara(3:er  of  the  young  people, 
might  not  perfectly  agree  with  the  views  of  the 
parents,  for  it  will  be  a  long  time,  I  fear,  before 
the  world  is  fo  enlightened  that  parents,  only 
anxious  to  render  their  children  virtuous,  will 
let  them  choofe  companions  for  life  themfclves. 

Befides,  this  would  be  a  fure  way  to  promote 
early  marriages,  and  from  early  marriages  the 
moft  falutary  phyfical  and  moral  effed:s  naturally 
flow.  What  a  different  characfter  does  a  married 
citizen  affume  from  the  felfifh  coxcomb,  who 
lives,  but  for  himfclf,  and  who  is  often  afraid  to 
marry  left  he  fhould  not  be  able  to  live  in  a  cer- 
tain flylc.  Great  emergencies  excepted,  which 
would  rarely  occur  in  a  fociety  of  which  equality 
was  the  bafis,  a  man  could  only  be  prepared  to 
(3ifcharge  the  duties  of  public  life,  by  the  habitu- 
T  4f  al 


296        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

al  pradice  of  thofe  inferiour  ones  which   form 
the  man. 

In  this  plan  of  education  the  conftitutlon  of 
boys  would  not  be  ruined  by  the  early  debauche- 
ries, which  now  makes  men  fo  felfifhj  nor  girls 
rendered  weak  and  vain,  by  indolence,  and  frivo- 
lous purfuits.  But,  I  prefuppofe,  that  fuch  a 
degree  of  equality  fhould  be  eflablifhed  between 
the  fexes  as  would  fhut  out  gallantry  and  co- 
quetry, yet  allow  friendfliip  and  love  to  temper 
the  heart  for  the  difcharge  of  higher  duties. 

Thefe  would  be  fchools  of  morality — and  the 
happinefs  of  man,  allowed  to  flow  from  the  pure 
fprings  of  duty  and  affedlion,  wliat  advances  might 
not  the  human  mind  make  ?  Society  can  only  be 
happy  and  free  in  proportion  as  it  is  virtuous  ; 
but  the  prefent  diflincftions,  eftablifhed  in  fociety, 
corrode  all  private,  and  blafl  all  public  virtue. 

I  have  already  inveighed  againft  the  cuftom  of 
confining  girls  to  their  needle,  and  (hutting  them 
out  from  all  political  and  civil  employments  ; 
for  by  thus  narrowing  their  minds  they  are  ren- 
dered unfit  to  fulfil  the  peculiar  duties  which 
nature  has  afligned  them. 

Only  employed  about  the  little  incidents  of 
the  day,  they  necelTarily  grow  up  cunning.  My 
very  foul  has  often  iickened  at  obferving  the  fly 
tricks  pradtifed  by  v/omen  to  gain  fome  foolifli 
thing  on  which  their  filly  hearts  were  fet.  Not 
allowed  to  difpofe  of  money,  or  call  any  thing 
their  own,  they  learn  to  turn  the  market  penny  ; 
or,  fliDuld  a  hufl^and  ofl^end,  by  ftaying  from 
home,  or  give  rife  to  fome  emotions  of  jealoufy — 
0.  new  gown,  or  any  pretty  bavvblc,  fmcoths  Ju- 
no's angry  brow.  But 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  297 

But  thefe  litthieffes  would  not  degrade  their 
charader,  if  women  were  led  to  refped:  them- 
felves,  if  political  and  moral  fubjecls  were  opened 
to  them  ;  and,  I  will  venture  to  affirm,  that  this 
is  the  only  way  to  make  them  properly  attentive 
to  their  domeftic  duties. — An  adtive  mind  em- 
braces the  whole  circle  of  its  duties,  and  finds 
time  enough  for  all.  It  is  not,  I  alTert,  a  bold 
attempt  to  emulate  mafculine  virtues  ;  it  is  not 
the  enchantment  of  literary  purfuits,  or  the  flea- 
dy  inve (ligation  of  fcientific  fiibjeds,  that  lead 
women  afiray  from  duty.  No,  it  is  indolence 
and  vanity — the  love  of  pleafure  and  the  love  of 
fvvay,  that  will  rain  paramount  in  an  empty  mind. 
I  fay  empty  emphatically,  becaufe  the  education 
which  women  now  receive  fcarcely  deferves  the 
name.  For  the  little  knowledge  that  they  are 
led  to  acquire,  during  the  iniportant  years  of 
youth,  is  merely  relative  to  accompli (liments  ; 
and  accomplifhmcnts  without  a  bottom,  for  un- 
Jefs  the  underflanding  be  cultivated,  fuperficial 
and  monotonous  is  every  grace.  Like  the  charms 
of  a  made  up  face,  they  only  ftrike  the  fenfes  in 
a  crowd ;  but  at  home,  wanting  mind,  they  want 
variety.  The  confequence  is  obvious  ;  in  gay 
icenes  of  difnpation  we  meet  the  artificial  mind 
and  fftce,  for  thofe  who  fly  from  folitude  dread, 
next  to  folitude,  the  domellic  circle  ;  not  having 
it  in  their  power  to  amufe  or  interefl,  they  feel 
their  own  infignificance,  or  find  nothing  to  amufe 
or  interefl  themfelvcs, 

Befides,  what  can  be  more  indelicate  than  a 
girl's  coming  out  in  the  fafliionablc  world  ?  W^hich, 
in  other  words,  is  to  bring  to  ^riarket  a maniaG:e- 

blc 


X9S        A^INDICx\TION  OF  THF 

ble  mlfs,  "whofe  perfon  is  taken  from  one  public 
place  to  another,  richly  caparifoned.  Yet,  mix^ 
ing  in  the  giddy  circle  under  reftraint,  theic  but- 
terflies long  to  flutter  at  large,  for  the  firfl:  af- 
fe(ftion  of  their  fouls  is  their  own  perfons,  to 
which  their  attention  has  been  called  with  the 
mofl:  iedulous  care  whilfl  they  were  preparing  for 
the  period  that  decides  their  fate  for  life.  In- 
Itead  of  purfuing  this  idle  routine,  fighing  for 
taftelefs  fhevv,  and  heartlefs  fbate,  with  what  dig- 
iiity  would  the  youths  of  both  {qxcs  form  attach- 
ments in  the  fchools  tiiat  I  have  curforily  pointed 
out  ;  in  which,  as  life  advanced,  dancing,  mulic, 
snd  drawing,  might  be  admitted  as  relaxations, 
for  at  thefe  fchools  young  people  of  fortune  ought 
to  remain,  more  or  Icfs,  till  they  were  of  age. 
Thole,  who  were  defigned  for  particular  profef- 
fions,  might  attend,  three  or  four  mornings  in 
the  v/eek,  the  fchools  appropriated  for  their  im- 
mediate in  ft  ruction. 

I  only  drop  thefe  obfervations  at  prefent,  as 
hints  ;  rather,  indeed,  as  an  outline  of  the  plan 
i  mean,  than  a  digefted  one  ;  but  I  mull  add^ 
that  I  highly  approve  of  one  regulation  mention- 
ed in  the  pamphlet  *  already  alluded  to,  that  of 
making  the  children  and  youths  independent  of 
the  mafters  refped:ing  punifhments.  They  lliould 
be  tried  by  their  peers,  which  would  be  an  admi- 
rable method  of  fixing  found  principles  of  juftice 
in  the  mind,  and  might  have  the  happieft  efl'ed: 
on  the  temper,  w^hich  is  very  early  foured  or  ir^ 
ritated  by  tyranny,  till  it  becomes  peeviflily  can- 
tiing,  or  ferocioufly  overbearing. 

My 

»  ThcBlflioptf  Autun's. 


RIGPITS  OF  WOMAN.  299 

My  imagination  darts  forward  with  benevolent 
fervour  to  greet  thefe  amiable  and  refpedtable 
groups,  in  fpite  of  the  fneering  of  cold  hearts, 
who  are  at  liberty  to  utter,  with  frigid  felf-im- 
portance,  the  damning  epithet — romantic  ;  the 
force  of  which  I  fliall  endeavour  to  blunt  by  re- 
peating the  words  of  an  eloquent  moraliil. — *  I 
'  know  not  whether  the  allufions  of  a  tfuly  hu- 

*  mane  heart,  whofe  zeal  renders  every  thing  eafy, 

*  is  not   preferable  to   that  rough  and  repulling 

*  reafon,  which  always  finds   in  indifference   for 

*  the  public  good,  the  firfl  obilacle  to  whatever 

*  would  promote  it.' 

I  know  that  libertines  will  alfo  exclaim,  that 
woman  would  be  unfexed  by  acquiring  ftrength 
of  body  and  mind,  and  that  beauty,  foft  bewitch- 
ing beauty  !  would  no  longer  adorn  the  daughters 
of  men  !  I  am  of  a  very  different  opinion,  for  I 
think  that,  on  the  contrary,  we  (hould  then  fee 
dignified  beauty,  and  true  grace  ;  to  produce 
which,  many  powerful  phyfical  and  moral  cau- 
fes  would  concur. — Not  relaxed  beauty,  it  is 
true,  nor  the  graces  of  helplelfnefs  ;  but  fuch  as 
appears  to  make  us  refpedt  the  human  body  as  a 
majeftic  pile  fit  to  receive  a  noble  inhabitant,  in 
the  relics  of  antiquity. 

I  do  not  forget  the  popular  opinion  that  the 
Grecian  flatues  were  not  modelled  after  nature. 
I  mean,  not  according  to  the  proportions  of  a 
particular  man  ;  but  that  beautiful  limbs  and 
features  were  fele6t:ed  from  various  bodies  to  form 
an  harmonious  whole.  This  might,  in  fome 
degree,  be  true.  The  fine  ideal  picture  of  an  ex- 
halted  imagin:.tion  might  be  fupcriour  to  the  mate- 
rials 


509        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

rials  which  the  painter  found  in  nature,  and  thus 
it  might  with  propriety  be  termed  rather  the 
mode]  of  mankind  than  of  a  man.  It  was  not, 
however,  the  mechanical  feledlion  of  limbs  and 
features  ;  but  the  ebullition  of  an  heated  fancy 
that  burfl  forth,  and  the  fine  fenfes  and  enlarged 
undcrftanding  of  the  artill  feleded  the  folid  mat- 
ter, which  he  drew  into  this  glowing  focus. 

I  oblerved  that  it  was  not  mechanical,  becauie 
a  whole  was  produced — a  model  of  that  grand 
iimplicity,  of  thole  concurring  energies,  which 
arrell;  our  attention  and  command  our  reverence. 
For  only  infipid  lifelcfs  beauty  is  produced  by  a 
fervile  copy  of  evea  beautiful  nature.  Yet,  in- 
dependent of  thefe  obfervations,  I  believe  that 
the  human  form  muft  have  been  far  more  beau- 
tiful than  it  is  at  prefent,  becaufe  extreme  indo- 
lence, barbarous  ligatures,  and  many  caufes, 
which  forcibly  ad  on  it,  in  our  luxurious  ftate 
of  fociety,  did  not  retard  its  expanfion,  or  ren- 
der it  deformed.  Exercife  and  cleanlinefs  appear 
to  be  not  only  the  fureft  means  of  preferving 
health,  but  of  promoting  beauty,  the  phyfical 
caufes  only  confidered  -,  yet,  this  is  not  fufficient, 
moral  ones  muft  concur,  or  beauty  will  be  mere- 
ly of  that  ruftic  J^ind  which  blooms  on  the  inno^ 
cent,  wholefome,  countenanees  of  fome  country 
people,  whofe  minds  have  not  been  exercife^. 
To  render  the  perfon  pertcdl,  phyfical  and  moral 
beauty  ought  to  be  attained  at  the  lame  time  ; 
each  lending  and  receiving  force  by  the  combi- 
nation. Judgment  mufl  refide  on  the  brow,  af- 
fection and  fancy  beam  in  the  eye,  and  humanity 
curve  the  check,  or  vain  is  the  fparkling  of  the 

fineft 


/ 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN  ^c^i 

Sneft  eye  or  the  elegantly  turned  finlfh  of  the 
faireft  features  :  whilft  in  every  motion  that  dif- 
plays  the  adive  limbs  and  well-knit  joints,  grace 
and  modefty  fhould  appear.  But  this  fair  afiem- 
blage  is  not  to  be  brought  together  by  chance  j 
it  is  the  reward  of  exertions  met  to  fupport  each 
t)ther  ;  for  judgment  can  only  be  acquired  by 
reflc6tion,  affedion  by  the  difcharge  of  duties,  and 
humanity  by  the  exercife  of  compfTion  to  every 
living  creature. 

Humanity  to  animals  fhould  be  particularly 
inculcated  as  a  part  of  national  education,  for  it 
is  not  at  prefent  one  of  our  national  virtues ► 
Tendernefs  for  their  humble  dumb  domeflics^ 
amongfl  the  lower  clafs,  is  oftener  to  be  found  in 
a  favage  than  a  civilized  flate.  For  civilizatiori 
prevents  that  intercourfe  which  creates  affedtiori 
in  the  rude  hut,  or  mud  cabin,  and  leads  uncul- 
tivated minds  who  are  only  depraved  by  the  re- 
finements which  prevail  in  the  fbciety^  where 
they  are  trodden  under  foot  by  the  rich,  to  domi- 
neer over  them  to  revenge  the  infults  that  they 
are  obliged  to  bear  from  their  fuperiours. 

This  habitual  cruelty  is  firft  caught  at  fchool, 
where  it  is  one  of  the  rare  fports  of  the  boys  to 
torment  the  miferable  brutes  that  fall  in  their  way. 
The  tranfition,  as  they  grow  up,  from  barbarity 
tor  brutes  to  domeflic  tyranny  over  wives,  chil- 
dren, and  fervants,  is  very  eafy.  Juftice,  or  even 
benevolence,  will  not  be  a  powerful  fpring  of  ac- 
tion unlefs  it  be  extended  to  the  whole  creation  ^ 
nay,  I  believe  tliat  it  may  be  delivered  as  an  axi- 
om, that  thofe  who  can  fee  pain,  unmoved,  will 
foon  learn  to  infli(!l  it. 

The 


302        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

The  vulgar  arefwayed  by  prefent  feelings,  and 
the  habits  which  they  have  accidentally  acquired ; 
but  on  partial  feelings  much  dependence  cannot 
be  placed,  though  they  be  jufl  ;  for,  when  they 
are  not  invigorated  by  reflection,  cuftom  weakens 
tlieu:!,  till  they  are  fcarcely  felt.  The  fympa- 
thies  of  our  nature  are  flrengthened  by  ponder- 
ing cogitations,  and  deadened  by  thoughtlefs  ufe. 
Mackbeth's  heart  fmote  him  more  for  one  mur- 
der, the  firft,  than  for  a  hundred  fubfequent  ones, 
which  were  neceflary  to  back  it.  But,  when  I 
iifed  the  epithet  vulgar,  I  did  not  mean  to  con- 
fine my  remark  to  the  poor,  for  partial  humanity, 
founded  on  prefent  fenfations,  or  whim,  is  quite 
as  confpicuous,  if  not  more-fo,  amongft  the  rich. 

The  lady  who  flieds  tears  for  the  bird  flarved 
in  a  fnare,  and  execrates  the  devils  in  the  rtiape  of 
men,  who  goad  to  madnefs  the  poor  ox,  or  whip 
the  patient  afs,  tottering  under  a  burden  above 
Its  flrength,  will,  neverthelefs,  keep  her  coach- 
man and  horfes  whole  hours  waiting  for  her,  when 
the  fharp  frofl  bites,  or  the  rain  beats  againft  the 
well-clofed  windows  which  do  not  admit  a  breath 
of  air  to  tell  her  how  roughly  the  wind  blows 
without.  And  flie  who  takes  her  dogs  to  bed, 
and  nurfcs  them,  with  a  parade  of  fenfibility, 
when  fick,  will  fuftcr  her  babes  to  grow  up  crook- 
ed in  a  nurfery.  This  illuftration  of  my  argu- 
ment is  drawn  from  a  matter  of  fadt.  The  wo- 
man whom  I  allude  to  was  handfome,  reckoned 
very  handfome,  by  thofe  who  do  not  mifs  the 
mind  when  the  face  is  plump  and  fair  ;  but  her 
underftanding  liad  not  been  led  from  female  du- 
ties by  literature,  nor  her  innocence  debauched  by 

knowledge. 


RfGIITS  OF  WOMAN.  ^a- 

knowledge.  No,  fhe  was  quite  feminine,  accord- 
ing to  the  mafculine  acceptation  of  the  word  5 
and,  {o  far  from  loving  tliele  fpoilcd  brutes  that 
filled  the  pkice  which  her  children  ought  to  have 
occupied,  llie  only  lifped  out  a  pretty  mixture  of 
French  and  Englilh  nonfenfe,  to  pleafe  the  men 
who  flockied  round  her.  The  wife,  mother,  and 
humn:n  creature,  were  all  fwallowed  uo  bv  the 
fa«5titious  character  which  an  improper  education 
and  the  felfilh  vanity  of  beaiity  had  produced. 

I  do  not  like  to  make  a  diftindion  without  a 
difference,  and  I  own  that  I  have  been  as  miK:h 
difgufted  by  the  fine  lady  who  took  her  lap-do^ 
to  her  bofom  inftcad  of  her  child  ;  as  by  the  fe- 
rocity of  a  man,  who,  beating  his  horfc,  declared, 
that  he  knew  as  well  wdien  he  did  wrong,  as  a 
Ghriftian. 

■  This  brood  of  folly  fhe^vs  how  miilakcn  they 
are  who,  if  they  allow  women  to  leave  their  ha- 
rams,  do  not  cultivate  their  underflandings,  irk 
Order  to  plant  virtues  in  their  hearts.  For  had 
they  fenfe,  they  might  acquire  that  domcftic  taftc 
which  would  lead  tliem  to  love  with  reafonablc 
fubordination  their  whole  family,  from  their  huf- 
band  to  the  houfe-dog  j  nor  would  they  ever  in- 
fult  humanity  in  the  pcrfon  of  the  moil  menial 
fervant  by  paying  more  attention  to  the  comfort 
of  a  brute,  than  to  that  of  a  fellow-creature. 

My  obfervations  on  national  education  are  ob- 
vioully  hints  ;  but  I  principally  with  to  enforce 
the  necelfity  of  educating  the  fexes  together  to 
perfe(ft  both,  and  of  making  children  ileep  at 
home  that  they  may  learn  to  love  home  ;  yet  to 
make  private  fijppcrt,  inileadof  fmothcring,  pub- 
lic 


^64.        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

lie  affedtions,  they  fhould  be  fent  to  fchool  to  mix 
with  a  number  of  equals,  for  only  by  the  joft- 
lings  of  equality  can  we  form  a  juft  opinion  of 
ourfelves. 

To  render  mankind  more  virtuous,  and  hap- 
pier of  courfe,  both  fexes  muft  ad:  from  the  fame 
principle ;  but  how  can  that  be  expedted  when 
only  one  is  allov/ed  to  fee  the  reafonablenefs  of 
it  ?  To  render  alfo  the  focial  compact  truly  equit- 
able, and  in  order  to  fpread  thofe  enlightening 
principles,  which  alone  can  meliorate  tlie  fate 
of  man,  women  muft  be  allowed  to  found  their 
virtue  on  knowledge,  which  is  fcarcely  pofliblc 
unlefs  they  are  educated  by  the  fame  purfuits  as 
men.  For  they  are  now  made  fo  inferiour  by 
ignorance  and  low  defires,  as  not  to  deferve  to 
be  ranked  with  them  ;  or,  by  the  ferpentine  wrig- 
glings  of  cunning  they  mount  the  tree  of  know- 
ledge, and  only  acquire  fufficient  to  lead  meft 
aftray. 

It  is  plain  from  the  hiflory  of  all  nations,  that 
women  cannot  be  confined  to  merely  domeftic 
purfuits,  for  they  will  not  fulfil  family  duties, 
unlefs  their  minds  take  a  wider  range,  and  whilft 
they  are  kept  In  ignorance  they  become  in  the  fame 
proportion  the  (laves  of  pleafure  as  they  are  the 
flaves  of  man.  Nor  can  they  be  fliut  out  of  great 
enterprifes,  though  the  narrownefs  of  their 
minds  often  make  them  mar,  what  they  are  una- 
ble to  comprehend. 

The  libertinifm,  and  even  the  virtues  of  fupe- 
riour  men,  will  always  give  women,  of  fome  de- 
fcription,  great  power  over  them  ;  and  thefe 
weak  women,  under   the   influence  of  childifli 

pa  (lions 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  305 

paffioiis  and  felfifh  vanity,  will  throw  a  falfe  light, 
over  the  objects  which  the  very  men  view  with 
their  eyes,  who  ought  to  enlighten  their  judg- 
ment.    Men  of  fancy,  and  thofe  fanguine  char-. 
aifters  who  moflly  hold  the  helm  of  human  af- 
fairs, in  general,  relax  in  the  fociety  of  women  ; 
and  furely  I  need  not  cite  to  the  moft   fuperficial 
reader  of  hiftory  the  numerous  examples  of  vice 
and  oppreffion  which  the  private  intrigues  of  fe- 
male favourites  have  produced  j  not  to  dwell   oii;^ 
the  mifchief 'that  naturally  arifes  from  the  blunrr 
dering  interpofition  of  well-meaning  folly.  For  in 
the  tranfadions  of  bufinefs  it  is  much  better  to 
have  to  deal  with  a  knave  than   a  foolj  becaufe 
a  knave  adheres  to  fome  plan  ;   and  any  plan  o£ 
reafon  may  be  feen  through  much  fooner  than  a 
fudden  flight  of  folly.    The  power  which  vile  and 
fooliili  women  have  had   over  wife   men,  who 
pofTefTed    fenfibility,  is   notorious  ;  I  fhall    only 
ipention  one  inftance. 

Who  ever  drew  a  more  exalted  female  charadler 
than  RoufTeau  ?  though  in  the  lump  he  conflant- 
ly  endeavoured  to  degrade  the  fex.  And  why 
was  he  thus  anxious  ?  Truly  to  juftify  to  himfelf 
the  afTedlion  which  weaknefs  and  virtue  had  made 
him  cherilh  for  that  fool  Therefa.  He  could 
not  raife  her  to  the  common  level  of  her  fex  ; 
and  therefore  he  laboured  to  bring  woman  down 
to  her*s.  He  found  her  a  convenient  humble 
companion,  and  pride  made  him  determine  to 
find  fome  iuperiour  virtues  in  the  being  whom 
he  chofc  to  live  with  ;  but  did  not  her  conduft 
during  his  life,  and  after  his  death,  clearly  fhew 
how  grofsly  he  was  miliaken  v/ho  called  her  a 
U  celeftial 


3g6        VlNDiCATlO!^  OF  THJE 

celeftial  inilocent.  Nay,  in  the  bittemcfs  of  his 
heart,  he  himfelf  laments,  that^hen  his  bodily  in- 
firmities m^de  him  no  longer  treat  her  like  a  wo- 
man, flie  ceafed  to  hsivean  affection  for  him.  And 
it  w^s  very  natm-al  that  iliie  fliould,  for  having  fa 
fev^^  fentinients  in  common,  when  the  fexual  tie 
Was  bre^en,  wh^t  was  to  hold  hefr  ?  To  hold  her 
afFeiflion  whofe  fenfibility  was  confined  to  one 
fbki  lihy,  to  oiie;  man,  it  rtsquires  fenfc  to  turn 
iiinfibihty  into  the  broad  channel  of  humanity  ; 
many  Women  have  not  mind  enough  to  have  an 
affedlion  for  &.  ':^ornan,  or  a  friertdfhip  for  a  ilian. 
But  the  fexual  weaknefs  that  makes  woman  de- 
pend on  man  for  a  fubfiftence,  produces  a  kind 
of  cattifh  affedion  which  leads  a  wife  to  purr 
about  her  hulband  as  fhe  would  about  any  man 
who  fed  and  carelTed  her. 

Men  are,  however,  often  gratified  by  thi^  kind 
of  fondhefs,  which  is  confined  in  a  beaflly  man- 
ner to  themfelves  -,  but  fhould  they  ever  become 
more  virtuous,  they  will  wifh  to  converfe  at  their 
iire-fide  with  a  friend,  after  they  ceafe  to  play 
with  a  millrefs. 

Befides,  underftanding  is  necefiary  to  giVe  va- 
riety and  interefl  to  fenfual  enjoyments,  for  low, 
indeed,  in  the  intellectual  fcale,  is  the  mind  that 
dart  continue  to  love  when  neither  virtue  nor 
lenfe  give  a  human  appearance  to  an  animal  ap- 
petite. But  fenfe  will  always  preponderate ;  and 
if  women  are  not,  in  general,  brought  more  on  a 
kvcl  with  men,  fome  fupcriour  women,  like  the 
Greek  courtezans,  will  aflemble  the  men  of  abil- 
ities around  them,  and  draw  from  their  families 
many  citizens,  who  would  have  flayed  at  home 

had 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  507 

llaci  their  wives  had  tnore  fenfe,  or  the  graces 
which  refult  from  the  exercife  of  the  underftand^ 
ing  and  fancy,  the  legitimate  parents  of  tafte*  A 
woman  of  talents,  if  ihe  be  not  abfolutely  Ugly, 
will  always  obtain  great  power,  raifed  by  the 
weaknefs  of  her  fex  j  and  in  proportion  as  men 
acquire  virtue  and  delicacy,  by  the  exertion  of 
reafon,  they  will  look  for  both  in  women,  but 
they  can  only  acquire  them  in  the  fame  way  that 
men  do. 

In  France  or  Italy,  have  the  Wortien  confined 
thcmfelves  to  domeftic  life  ?  though  they  have 
not  hitherto  had  a  political  exiftence,  yet^  have 
they  not  illicitly  had  great  fway  ?  corrupting 
themfelves  and  the  men  with  whofe  pafTions 
they  played.  In  {hort,  in  whatever  light  I  view 
the  fabje(5t,  reafon  and  experience  convince  me 
that  the  only  method  of  leading  women  to  fulfil 
their  peculiar  duties,  is  to  free  them  from  all  rc- 
llraint  by  allowing  them  to  participate  the  in- 
herent rights  of  mankind. 

Make  them  free,  and  they  will  quickly  be- 
come wife  and  virtuous,  as  men  become  more  fo; 
for  the  improvement  mufl:  be  mutual,  or  the  in- 
julVice  which  one  half  of  the  human  race  are 
obliged  to  fubmit  to,  retorting  On  their  oppref- 
fors,  the  virtue  of  man  will  be  worm-eaten  by 
the  infedl  whom  he  keeps  under  his  feet. 

Let  men  take  their  choice,  man  and  woman 
were  made  for  each  other,  though  not  to  become 
one  being  ;  and  if  they  will  not  improve  women, 
they  will  deprave  them  ! 

I  fpeak  of  the  improvement  and  emancipation 
of  the  whole  fex,  for  I  know  that  the  behaviour 
U  2  q( 


3 


o8        VINDICATION  OF  THE 


^of  a  few  women,  who^  by  accident,  or  following 
a  ftrong  bent  of  nature,  have  acquired  a  portion 
of  knowledge  fuperiour  to  that  of  the  reft  of  their 
fex,  has  often  been  overbearing  ;  but  there  have 
been  inftances  of  women  who,  attaining  know- 
ledge, have  not  difcarded  modefty,  nor  have  they 
always  pedantically  appeared  to  defpife  the  ignor- 
ance which  they  laboured  to  difperfe  in  their  own 
minds.  The  exclamations  then  which  any  ad- 
vice refpeding  female  learning,  commonly  pro- 
duces, efpecially  from  pretty  women,  often  arife 
from  envy.  When  they  chance  to  fee  that  even 
the  luftre  of  their  eyes,  and  the  flippant  fportive- 
nefs  of  refined  coquetry  will  not  always  fecuye 
them  attention,  during  a  whole  evening,  fhould  a 
.woman  of  a  more  cultivated  underftanding  en- 
deavour to  give  a  rational  turn  to  the  converfa- 
tion,  the  common  fource  of  confolation  is,  that 
.  fuch  women  feldom  get  hufbands.  What  arts 
.have  I  not  feen  fiUy  women  ufe  to  interrupt  by 
jiirtationy  a  very  fignificant  word  to  dcfcribe  fuch 
a  manoeuvre,  a  rational  converfation  which  made 
the  men  forget  that  they  were  pretty  women. 

But,  allowing  what  is  very  natural  to  man, 
that  the  polTefTion  of  rare  abilities  is  really  calcu- 
lated to  excite  over- weening  pride,  difgufting  in 
both  men  and  women — in  what  a  ftate  of  inferi- 
ority muft  the  female  faculties  have  rufted  when 
fuch  a  fmall  portion  of  knowledg-e  as  thofe  wo- 
men attained,  who  have  fneeringly  been  termed 
learned  women,  could  be  fingular  ? — Sufficiently 
fo  to  puff  up  the  poffeflbr,  and  excite  envy  in  her' 
contemporaries,  and  feme  of  the  other  fex.  Nay, 
has  not  a- little  rationality  expofed  many  women 

to 


RIGHTS  OF  woman:  309 

to  the  fevcreft  cenfure  ?  I  advert  to  well  known 
fadts,  for  I  have  frequently  heard  women  ridicu- 
led, and  every  little  weaknefs  expofed,  only  be- 
caufe  they  adopted  the  advice  of  fome  medical 
men,  and  deviated  from  the  beaten  track  in  their 
mode  of  treating  their  infants.  I  have  actually 
heard  tliis  barbarous  averlion  to  innovation  car- 
ried flill  further,  and  a  fenfible  woman  ftigma- 
tized  as  an  unnatural  mother,  who  has  thus  been 
wifely  folicitous  to  preferve  the  health  of  her  chil- 
dren, when  in  the  midft  of  her  care  fhe  has  lofl 
one  by  fome  of  the  cafualties  of  infancy,  which 
no  prudence  can  ward  off.  Her  acquaintance 
have  obfcrved,  that  this  was  the  confequence  of 
new-fangled  notions — the  new-fangled  notions 
of  eafeand  cleanlinefs.  And  thofe  who  pretend- 
ing to  experience,  though  they  have  long  adhered 
to  prejudices  that  have,  according  to  the  opinion 
of  the  moft  fagacious  phyficians,  thinned  the  hu- 
man race,  almofl  rejoiced  at  the  difafter  that  gave 
a  kind  of  fandtion  to  prefcription. 

Indeed,  if  it  were  only  on  this  account,  the 
national  education  of  women  is  of  the  utmoft  con- 
fequence, for  what  a  number  of  human  facrifices 
are  made  to  that  moloch  prejudice  !  And  in  how 
many  ways  are  children  deflroyed  by  the  lafcivi- 
oufnefs  of  man  ?  The  want  of  natural  affedion, 
in  many  women,  who  are  drawn  from  their  duty 
by  the  admiration  of  men,  and  the  ignorance  of 
others,  render  the  infancy  of  man  a  much  more 
perilous  ftate  than  that  of  brutes ;  yet  men  arc 
unwilling  to  place  women  in  fituations  proper  to 
enable  them  to  acquire  fufficient  underflanding 
to  know  hoY»'  even  to  nurfe  their  babes. 

U  1  So 


3IO        VINDICATiO>t  OF  THE 

So  forcibly  does  this  truth  ftrike  me,  that  I 
would  reft  the  whole  tendency  of  my  rcafoning 
upon  it,  for  whatever  tends  to  incapacitate  the 
maternal  chara6ler,  takes  woman  out  of  her  fphere. 

But  it  is  vain  to  exped  the  prefent  race  of 
weak  mothers  either  to  take  that  reafonable  care 
of  a  child's  body,  which  is  necefl'ary  to  lay  the 
foundation  of  a  good  conftitution,  fuppoling  that 
it  do  not  fuffer  for  the  fins  of  its  father  •  or,  to 
manage  its  temper fo  judicioufly  tliat  the  child  will 
not  have,  as  it  grows  up,  to  throw  off  all  that  its 
mother,  its  firft  inftrutSor,  diredly  or  indiredtly 
taught  j  and  unlefs  the  mind  has  uncommon  vig- 
our, womanifli  follies  will  ftick  to  the  character 
throughout  life.  The  weaknefs  of  the  mother 
will  be  vifited  on  the  children  !  And  whilft  v/o- 
mcn  are  educated  to  rely  on  their  hufbands  for 
iudgment,  this  muft  ever  be  the  confequence,  for 
there  is  no  improving  an  underftanding  by  halves, 
nor  can  any  being  ad:  wifely  from  imitation,  be-. 
caufe  in  every  circumftance  of  life  there  is  a  kind 
of  individuality,  which  requires  an  exertion  of 
j-udgment  to  modify  general  rules.  The  being 
who  can  think  juftly  in  one  track,  will  foon  ex- 
tend its  intellectual  empire  ;  and  (he  who  has  fuf- 
ficient  judgment  to  manage  her  children,  will  not 
fubmit,  right  or  wrong,  to  her  hufband,  or  pa- 
tiently to  the  focial  laws  which  make  a  nonentity 
of  a  wife. 

In  public  fchools  women,  to  guard  againft  the 
errors  of  ignorance,  fhould  be  taught  the  elements 
of  anatomy  and  medicine,  not  only  to  enable  them 
to  take  proper  care  of  their  own  health,  but  to 
pake  them  rational  nurfes  of  their  infants,   par- 

eats. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  311 

ents,  and  hufbands  ;  for  the  bills  of  mortality  are 
fwelled  by  the  blunders  of  felf-willed  old  women, 
who  give  noftrums  of  their  own  without  know- 
ing any  thing  of  the  human  frame.  It  is  like- 
wife  proper,  only  in  a  domeftic  view,  to  make 
women  acquainted  with  theanatomy  of  themind, 
by  allowing  the  fcxes  to  aflbciate  together  in 
every  purfuit  ;  and  by  leading  them  to  obfervc 
the  progrefs  ©f  the  human  underftanding  in  the 
improvement  of  tlie  fciences  and  arts  ;  never  for- 
getting the  fcience  of  morality,  nor  the  ftudy  of 
the  political  hiftory  of  mankinds 
'  i  A  man  has  been  termed  a  microcofm ;  and  eve- 
ry family  might  alfo  be  called  a  ftate.  States,  it 
is  true,  have  moftly  been  governed  by  arts  that 
difgrace  the  chara<fl:€r  of  man  ;  and  the  want  of 
a  juO;  conftitution,  and  equal  law$,  have  fo  per- 
plexed the  notions  of  the  worldly  wife,  that  they 
more  than  queftion  the  reafonablenefs  of  contend- 
ing for  the  rights  of  humanity.  Thus  morality, 
polluted  in  the  national  refervoir,  fends  off  ilreams 
of  vice  to  corrupt  the  conftituent  parts  of  the 
body  politic  ;  but  fhould  more  noble,  or  rather, 
more  juft  principles  regulate  the  laws,  which 
ought  to  be  the  government  of  fociety,  and  not 
thofe  vidio  execute  them,  duty  might  become  the 
rule  of  private  condu6l.  -.'.j.m^ 

Befides,  by  the  exercife  of  their  bodies  and 
minds  women  would  acquire  that  mental  a(flivi- 
ty  fo  neceffary  in  the  maternal  character,  united 
with  the  fortitude  that  diflinguilhes  fleadinefs  of 
condudl  from  the  obflinate  perverfenefs  of  weak- 
nefs.  For  it  is  dangerous  to  advife  the  indolent 
to  be  fleady,  becaufe  they  inllantly  become  rigor- 

y  4  ous. 


312        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

ous,  and  to  fave  themfelves  trouble,  punifli  with 
feverity  faults  that  the  patient  fortitude  of  reafon 
might  have  prevented. 

But  fortitude  prefuppofes  flrength  of  mind  ; 
and  is  flrength  of  mind  to  be  acquired  by  indo- 
lent acquiefcence  ?  by  afking  advice  inftead  of 
exerting  the  judgment  ?  by  obeying  through  fear, 
inftead  of  pradiling  the  forbearance,  which  we 
all  ftand  in  need  of  ourfelves  ? — The  conclulion 
■which  I  wifh  to  draw,  is  obvious  ;  make  women 
rational  creatures,  and  free  citizens,  and  they  will 
quickly  become  good  wives,  and  mothers  ;  that 
is — if  men  do  not  negledl  the  duties  of  hufbands 
and  fathers. 

DifcufTmg  the  advantages  which  a  public  and 
private  education  combined,  as  I  have  fkctched, 
might  rationally  be  expected  to  produce,  I  have 
dwelt  moft  on  fuch  as  are  particularly  relative  to 
.the  female  world,  becaufe  I  think  the  female 
world  opprefled  ;  yet  the  gangrene,  which  the 
vices  engendered  by  oppreiTion  have  produced,  is 
not  confined  to  the  morbid  part,  but  pervades 
fociety  at  large  :  fo  that  when  I  wifti  to  fee  my 
fex  become  more  like  moral  agents,  my  heart 
bounds  with  the  anticipation  of  the  general  dif- 
fufion  of  that  fublime  contentment  which  only 
morality  can  diffufe. 


CHAP. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  313 


CHAP.      XIII. 

SOME  INSTANCES  OF  THE  FOLLY  WHICH 
THE  IGNORANCE  OF  WOMEN  GENE- 
RATES ;  WITH  CONCLUDING  REFLEC- 
TIONS ON  THE  MORAL  IMPROVEMENT 
THAT  A  REVOLUTION  IN  FEMALE  MAN- 
NERS MIGHT  NATURALLY  BE  EXPECTED 
TO    PRODUCE. 

X  HERE  are  many  follies,  in  fome  degree, 
peculiar  to  women  :  lins  againfl  reafon  of  com- 
miffion  as  well  as  of  omifTion  ;  but  all  flowing 
from  ignorance  or  prejudice,  I  fhall  only  point 
out  fuch  as  appear  to  be  particularly  injurious  to 
their  moral  charad:er.  And  in  animadvertin2:  on 
them,  I  wifh  efpecially  to  prove,  that  the  vveak- 
nefs  of  mind  and  body,  which  men  have  endea- 
voured, impelled  by  various  motives,  to  perpetu-v 
ate,  prevents  their  difcharging  the  peculiar  duty 
of  their  fex  :  for  when  weaknefs  of  body  will  not 
permit  them  to  fuckle  their  children,  and  weak- 
nefs of  mind  makes  them  fpoil  their  tempers— is 
woman  in  a  natural  ftate  ? 

SECT.       I. 

One  glaring  inftance  of  the  Vv'cakncfs  which 
proceeds  from  ignorance,  firfl  claims  attention, 
and  calls  for  fevere  reproof. 

In  this  metropolis  a  niimlier  oflurking  leeches 
infarnoufly  gain  a  fubfirtence  bv  priv>51ifing  on  the 

credulity 


SH        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

credulity  of  women,  pretending  to  caft  nativities, 
to  ufe  the  technical  word ;  and  many  females 
who,  proud  of  their  rank  and  fortune,  look  down 
on  the  vulgar  with  fovereign  contempt,  fhew  by 
this  credulity,  that  the  diftindtion  is  arbitrary,  and 
that  they  have  not  fufficiently  cultivated  their 
minds  to  rife  above  vulgar  prejudices.  Women, 
becaufe  they  have  not  been  led  to  confider  the 
knowledge  of  their  duty  as  the  one  thing  necef- 
fary  to  know,  or,  to  live  in  the  prefent  moment 
by  the  difcharge  of  it,  are  very  anxious  to  peep 
into  futurity,  to  learn  what  they  have  to  expe^  to 
render  life  interefting,  and  to  break  the  vacuum  of 
ignorance. 

I  mufl  be  allowed  to  expoflulate  feriouny  with 
the  ladies  who  follow  theie  idle  inventions  j  for 
ladies,  miftrefles  of  families,  are  not  afliamed  to 
drive  in  their  own  carriages  to  the  door  of  the 
cunning  man*.  And  if  any  of  them  (hould  pe- 
rufe  this  work,  I  entreat  them  to  anfvver  to  their 
own  hearts  the  following  queftions,  not  forget- 
ting that  they  are  in  the  prefence  of  God, 

Do  you  believe  that  there  is  but  one  God,  and 
that  he  is  powerful,  wife,  and  good  ? 

Do  you  believe  that  all  things  were  created  by 
him,  and  that  all  beings  are  dependent  on  him  ? 

Do  you  rely  on  his  wifdom,  fo  confpicuous  in 
his  works,  and  in  your  own  frame,  and  are  you  con- 
vinced that  he  has  ordered  all  things  which  do 
not  come  under  the  cognizance  of  your  fcnfes,  in 
the  fame  perfe«£t  harmony,  to  fulfil  his  dcfigrw  ? 

Do. 

*  1  once  lived  in  the  neiGbhouihood  of  one  of  th^fe  men,  a  lawifcmt 
nan,  and  Tisv  with  furpiife  ami  indignation,  wonncD,  whole  appearance  ?nrf 
attendance  bcQioke  that  lank  in  which  females  are  fuj'pofed  to  receive  Sl 
^'upeiiour  tducittfcn,  Cock  to  his  door. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  31^ 

Do  you  acknowledge  that  the  power  of  look- 
ing into  futurity,  and  feeing  things  that  are  not, 
as  if  they  were,  is  an  attribute  of  the  Creator  ? 
And  fhould  he,  by  an  impreffion  on  the  minds  of 
his  creatures,  think  fit  to  impart  to  them  fome 
event  hid  in  the  fhades  of  time  yet  unborn,  to 
whom  would  the  feeret  be  revealed  by  immediate 
jnfpiration  ?  The  opinion  of  ages  will  anfwer  this 
queftion — to  reverend  old  men,  to  people  dif- 
tinguiflied  for  eminent  piety. 

The  oracles  of  old  were  thus  delivered  by  priefts 
dedicated  to  the  ferviceof  the  God  who  wasfup- 
pofed  to  infpire  them.  The  glare  of  worldly 
pomp  which  furrounded  thefe  impoflors,  and 
therefped:  paid  to  them  by  artful  politicians,  who 
knew  how  to  avail  themfelves  of  this  ufeful  en- 
gine to  bend  the  necks  of  tlie  ftrong  under  the 
dominion  of  the  cunning,  fpread  a  facred  myfte- 
rious  veil  of  fandity  over  their  lies  and  abomi- 
nations. Imprefled  by  fuch  folemn  devotional 
parade,  a  Greek,  or  Roman  lady  might  be  ex- 
cufed,  if  fhe  enquired  of  the  oracle,  when  fhewas 
anxious  to  pry  into  futurity,  .or  enquire  about 
Ibme  dubious  event :  and  her  enquiries,  however 
contrary  to  reafon,  could  not  be  reckoned  impi- 
ous.— But,  can  the  profelibrs  of  Chriftianity  ward 
off  that  imputation  ?  Can  a  Chriftian  fuppole  that 
the  favourites  of  the  mofl  High,  the  highly  fa- 
voured, would  be  obliged  to  lurk  in  difguifc,  and 
pradife  the  moft  diflioneft  tricks  to  clieat  filly 
women  out  of  the  money — which  the  poor  cry 
for  in  vain  ? 

Say  not  that  fuch  queAIons  are  an  Inf.ilt  to 
coramon  fenfc— for  it  is  your  own  condud,  O  ye 

foolifk 


3i6        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

fbolidi  women  !  which  throws  an  odium  on  your 
fex  !  And  thele  reflexions  fhould  make  you  fhud- 
der  at  your  thouo-htlelTnefs,  and  irrational  devo- 
lion. — For  I  do  not  fuppofe  that  all  of  you  laid 
afide  your  religion,  fuch  as  it  is,  when  you  en- 
tered thofe  myfterious  dwellings.  Yet,  as  I  have 
throughout  fuppofed  myfelf  talking  to  ignorant 
women,  for  ignorant  ye  are  in  the  moft  emphati- 
cal  fenfe  of  the  word,  it  would  be  abfurd  to  rea- 
fon  with  you  on  the  egregious  folly  of  defiring  to 
know  what  the  Supreme  Wifdom  has  concealed. 

Probably  you  would  not  underftand  me,  were 
I  to  attempt  to  ftiew  you  that  it  would  be  abfo* 
lutely  inconfiftent  with  the  grand  purpofe  of 
life,  that  of  rendering  human  creatures  wife  and 
virtuous  :  and  that,  were  it  fandtioned  by  God, 
it  would  difturb  the  order  eftablifhed  in  creation  ; 
and  if  it  be  not  fandtioned  by  God,  do  you  ex- 
ped  to  hear  truth  r  Can  events  be  foretold,  events 
which  have  not  yet  afllimed  a  body  to  become 
fubjed:  to  mortal  infpedlion,  can  they  be  forefeen 
by  a  vicious  worldling,  who  pampers  his  appe- 
tites by  preying  on  thefoolilli  ones  ? 

Perhaps,  however,  you  devoutly  believe  in  the 
devil,  and  imagine,  to  ihift  the  queftion,  that  he 
may  affifl  his  votaries  ;  but,  if  really  refpecling  the 
power  of  fuch  a  being,  an  enemy  to  goodnefs 
and  to  God,  can  you  go  to  church  after  having 
been  under  fuch  an  obligation  to  him  ? 

From  thefe  delufions  to  thofe  flill  more  fafli- 
ionable  deceptions,  pradlifed  by  the  whole  tribe 
of  mngnetifers,  the  tranfition  is  very  natural. 
With  refpedt  to  them,  it  is  equally  proper  to  aik 
women  a  few  quef^iQiis.  .   . ,.' 


RIGHTS  OF  V/OiMAN;  '^^ij 

Do  you  know  any  thing  of  the  conilrudtion  of 
the  human  frame  ?  If  not^  it  is  proper  that  you 
(hould  be  told  what  every  child  ought  to  kn-ow^ 
that  when  its  admirable  economy  has  been  dif- 
turbed  by  intemperance  or  indolence,  I  fpeak  not 
of  violent  diforders,  but  of  chronical  difeafes,  it 
mud  be  brought  into  a  healthy  flate  again,  by 
flow  degrees,  and  if  the  fund:ions  of  life  have  not 
been  materially  injured,  regimen,  another  word 
for  temperance,  air,  exercife,  and  a  few  raedi^- 
cines  prefcribcd  by  perfons  who  have  ftudied  the 
human  body,  are  the  only  human  means,,  yet  dif- 
covered,  of  recovering  that  ineflimable  bJeffing, 
■  health,  that  will  bear  invefligation. 

Do  you  then  believe  that  thefe  magnetifer?., 
who,  by  hocus  pocu&  tricks,  pretend  to  work  a 
miracle,  are  delegated  by  God,  or  affifled  by  the 
folver  of  all  thefe  kinds  of  difficulties — the  devil. 

Do  they,  when  they  put  to  Eight,  as  it  is  faid, 
diforders  that  have  baffled  the  powers  of  medi- 
cine, work  in  conformity  to  the  light  of  reafon  ? 
or,  do  they  eifedt  thefe  wonderful  cures  by  fuper* 
natural  aid  ? 

By  a  communicationy  an  adept  may  afifwer,- 
with  the  world  of  fpirits.  A  noble  privilege,  it 
muft  be  allowed.  Some  of  the  ancients  mention 
familiar  daemons,  who  guarded  them  from  dan- 
ger by  kindly  intimating,  we  cannot  guefs  in 
what  manner,  when  any  danger  was  nigh  j  or, 
pointed  out  what  they  ought  to  undertake.  Yet 
the  men  who  laid  claim  to  this  privilege,  out  of 
the  order  of  nature,  infifted  that  it  was  the  re- 
ward, or  confequence,  of  fuperiour  temperance 
and  piety.     But    the  prefent  workers  of  wonders. 

are 


3i8        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

iirc  not  raifed  above  their  fellows  by  fuperioiif 
temperance  or  iandity.  They  do  not  cure  for 
the  love  of  God,  but  money.  Thefe  are  the 
pricfts  of  quackery,  though  it  be  true  they  have 
not  the  convenient  expedient  of  felling  malles  for 
fouls  in  purgatory,  nor  churches  where  they  can 
difphy  crutches,  and  models  of  limbs  made  found 
by  a  touch  or  a  word. 

I  am  not  converfent  with  the  technical  terms, 
nor  initiated  into  the  arcana,  therefore,  I  may 
fpeak  improperly  ♦  but  it  is  clear  that  men  who 
will  not  conform  to  the  law  of  reafon,  and  earn  a 
fubliftence  in  an  honeft  way,  by  degrees,  are  very 
fortunate  in  becoming  acquainted  with  fuch 
obliging  fpirits.  We  cannot,  indeed,  give  them 
credit  for  either  great  fagacity  or  goodnefs,  elfe 
they  would  have  cho/en  more  noble  inflruments, 
when  they  wifhed  to  (liew  themfelves  the  benev- 
olent friends  of  man. 

It  is,  hov/ever,  little  fliort  of  blafphemy  to 
pretend  to  fuch  powers  ! 

From  the  whole  tenor  of  the  difpenfations  of 
Providence,  it  appears  evident  to  fober  reafon, 
that  certain  vices  produce  certain  effects  ;  and 
can  any  one  fo  grofsly  infult  the  wifdom  of  God, 
as  to  fuppofe  that  a  miracle  will  be  allowed  to 
ilifturb  his  general  laws,  to  reilore  to  health  the 
intemperate  and  vicious,  merely  to  enable  them 
to  purfue  the  fame  courfe  with  impunity  ?  Be 
whole,  and  fm  no  more,  faid  Jefus.  And,  are 
greater  miracles  to  be  performed  by  thofewhodo 
not  follow  his  footfteps,  who  healed  th«  body  to 
reach  tlie  mind  ? 

The 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  319 

The  mentioning  of  the  name  of  Chrift,  after 
filch  vile  impoftors,  mky  difpleafe  fome  of  my 
readers— ^I  refpedt  their  warmth  ;  but  let  them 
not  forget  that  the  followers  of  thefc  delufions 
bear  his  name,  and  profefs  to  be  the  difcipks  of 
him,  who  faid,  by  their  works  we  fliould  know 
who  were  the  children  of  God  or  the  fervants  of 
itn:  I  allow  that  it  i^  eafier  to  touch  the  body  of 
a  faint,  or  to  be  magnetifed,  than  to  reftrain  our 
appetites  or  govern  our  paffions  ;  but  health  of 
body  or  nlind  can  only  be  recovered  by  thelc 
means,  or  we  make  the  Supreme  Judge  partial 
and  revengeful. 

I5  he  a  man  that  he  fhould  change,  or  punlilt 
out  of  refentment  ?  He — the  common  father, 
wdUrtds  but  to  heal,  fays  reafon,  and  our  irregu- 
larities producing  certain  confequences,  we  arci 
forcibly  fliewn  the  nature  of  vice;  that  thus  learn- 
ing to  know  good  from  evil,  by  experience,  wc 
may  hate  one  and  love  the  other,  in  proportion 
to  the  wifdom  which  we  attain.  The  poifon 
contains  the  antidote  ;  and  we  either  reform  our 
evil  habits  and  ceafe  to  fin  againft  our  own  bo- 
dies, to  ufe  the  forcible  language  of  fcripture,  or 
a  premature  death,  the  punifhment  of  fin,  fnaps 
the  thread  of  life. 

Here  an  awful  ftop  is  put  to  our  enquiries.—- 
But,  why  fhould  I  conceal  my  fentiments  ?  Con^ 
fidering  the  attributes  of  God,  I  believe  that 
whatever  punifhment  may  follow,  will  tend, 
like  the  anguiOi  of  difeafe,  to  fhew  the  malignity 
of  vice,  for  the  purpofe  of  reformation.  Pofi- 
tive  punifhment  appears  fo  contrary  to  the  nature 
of  God,  difcoverable  in  all  his  works,  and  in  our 

own 


32d        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

own  reafon,  that  I  tould  fooner  believe  that  the 
Deity  paid  no  attention  to  the  conduct  of  men, 
than  that  he  punidied  without  the  benevolent  de- 
iign  of  reforming. 

To  fuppofe  only  that  an  all -wife  and  powerful 
Being,  as  good  as  he  is  great,  (hould  create  a  be- 
ing forefeeing,  that  after  fifty  or  fixty  years  of 
feveridi  exiftence,  it  would  be  plunged  into  never 
ending  woe — is  blafphemy.  On  what  will  the 
worm  feed  that  is  never  to  die  ? — On  folly,  on 
ignorance,  fay  ye — I  fhould  blufli  indignantly  at 
drawing  the  natural  concluiion,  could  I  infert 
it,  and  wi(h  to  withdraw  myfelf  from  the  wing 
of  my  God  ! — On  fuch  a  fuppofition,  I  fpeak 
with  reverence,  he  would  be  a  confuming  iire. 
We  fliould  widi,  though  vainly,  to  fly  from  his 
prefence  when  fear  abforbed  love,  and  darknefs 
involved  all  his  counfels  ! 

I  know  that  many  devout  people  boaft  of  fub- 
mitting  to  the  Will  of  God  blindly,  as  to  an  ar- 
bitrary fceptre  or  rod,  on  the  fame  principle 
as  the  Indians  wordiip  the  devil.  In  other  words, 
like  people  in  the  common  concerns  of  life,  they 
do  homage  to  power,  and  cringe  under  the  foot 
that  can  crufli  them.  Rational  religion,  on  the 
contrary,  is  afubmiflion  to  the  will  of  a  being  fo 
perfedlly  wife,  that  all  he  wills  mufl  be  direded 
by  the  proper  motive — muft  be  reafonable. 

And,  if  thus  we  refpecfl  God,  can  we  give  cre- 
dit to  the  myfterious  inlinuations,  which  infult  his 
laws  ?  can  we  believe,  though  it  fliould  ftare  us  in 
the  £ice,  that  he  would  work  a  miracle  to  au- 
thorife  confufion  by  fandioning  an  error  ?  Yet 
we  mufl  either  allov/  thefe  impious  eopclufions, 

'  '  or, 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  321 

ot  treat  with  contempt  every  promife  to  reftore 
health  to  a  difeafed  body  by  fuperriatural  means, 
or  to  foretell  the  incidents  that  can  only  be  fore-* 
feen  by  God, 

S    E    C    T.       il. 

Another  inftance  of  that  feminine  weaknefs 
of  charafter,  often  produced  by  a  confined  educa- 
tion, is  a  romantic  twifl  of  the  mind,  which  has 
been  very  properly  tQrrciQd.  fenti??ientaL   -rn.'^ai  to 

Women  fubjciited  by  ignorance  to  their  fen- 
fations,  and  only  taught  to  look  for  happinefs  in 
love,  refine  on  fenfual  feelings j  and  adopt  meta.- 
phyfical  notions  refpeding  that  paffion,  which 
lead  them  fhamefully  to  negledt  the  duties  of 
life,  and  frequently  in  the  midfi;  of  thefe  fublime 
refinements  they  plump  into  actual  vice* 

Thefe  are  the  women  who  are  amufed  by  the 
reveries  of  the  flupid  novelifts,  who,  knowing  little 
of  human  nature,  work  up  ilale  tales,  and  defcribe 
meretricious  fcenes,  all  retailed  in  a  fentimental 
jargon,  which  equally  tend  to  corrupt  the  tafte,. 
and  draw  the  heart  afide  from  its  daily  duties,  i 
do  not  mention  the  underftanding,  becaufe  never 
having  been  exercifed,  its  flumbering  energies  reft 
inactive,  like  the  lurking  particles  of  fire  which 
are  fuppofed  univerfally  to  pervade  matter. 

Females,  in  fadt,  denied  all  political  privileges, 
and  not  allowed,  as  married  women,  excepting  in 
criminal  cafes,  a  civil  exigence,  have  their  atten- 
tion naturally  drawn  from  the  intereft  of  the  whole 
community  to  that  of  the  minute  parts,  though 
the  private  dutv  of  any  member  of  jCocicty  muft 

W  be 


322        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

be  very  imperfedly  performed  when  not  don^ 
nedted  with  the  general  good.  The  mighty  buii- 
ncfs  of  female  life  is  to  pleafe,  and  retrained  from 
entering  int6  more  important  concerns  by  po-^ 
litical  and  civil  o^preflion,  fentiments  become 
events,  and  reflection  deepens  what  it  Ihould,  and 
would  have  effaced,  if  the  underllanding  had  been 
allowed  to  take  a  wider  range. 

But,  confined  to  trifling  employments,  they 
naturally  imbibe  opinions  which  the  only  kind 
of  reading  calculated  to  intereft  an  innocent  fri-* 
volous  mind,  infpires.  Unable  to  grafp  any  thing 
great,  is  it  furprifmg  that  they  find  the  reading 
of  hillory  a  very  dry  tafk,  and  difquifitions  ad- 
dreffed  to  the  underflanding  intoUerably  tedious^ 
and  almofl  unintelligible  ?  Thus  are  they  necef- 
farily  dependent  on  the  novelift  for  amufement. 
Yet,  when  I  exclaim  againil  novels,  I  mean  when 
contrafled  with  thofe  works  which  exercife  the 
underilanding  and  regulate  the  imagination.— 
For  any  kind  of  reading  I  think  better  than  leav- 
ing a  blank  flill  a  blank,  becaufe  the  mind  mull 
receive  a  degree  of  enlargement  and  obtain  a  lit- 
tle flrength  by  a  (light  exertion  of  its  thinking 
powers  ;  befides  even  the  produ(ftions  that  are 
only  addrefled  to  the  imagination,  raii'e  the  read- 
er a  little  above  the  grofs  gratification  of  appe- 
tites, to  which  the  mind  has  not  given  a  fliade  of 
delicacy. 

This  obfervation  is  the  refalt  of  experience  ; 
for  I  have  known  feveral  notable  women,  and  one 
in  particular,  who  was  a  very  good  woman — as 
good  as  fuch  a  narrow  mind  would  allow  her  to 
be,  who  took  care  that  her  daughters    (three  in 

number) 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  323 

number)  fhould  never  fee  a  novel.  As  flie  was 
a  woman  of  fortune  and  fafhion,  they  had  various 
mafters  to  attend  them,  and  a  fort  of  menial  gov- 
ernefs  to  watch  their  footfteps.  From  their  maf- 
ters  they  learned  how  tables,  chairs,  &c.  were 
called  in  French  and  Italian  ;  but  as  the  few 
books  thrown  in  their  way  were  far  above  their 
capacities,  or  devotional,  they  neither  acquired 
ideas  nor  fentlments,  and  pafled  their  time  when 
not  compelled  to  repeat  wordsy  in  dreffmg,  quar- 
relling with  each  other,  or  converling  with  their 
maids  by  ftealth,  till  they  were  brought  into  com- 
pany as  marriageable. 

Their  mother,  a  widow,  was  bufy  in  the  mean 
time  in  keeping  up  her  connections,  as  flie  term- 
ed a  numerous  acquaintance,  lefl  her  girls  ihould 
want  a  proper  introduction  into  the  great  world. 
And  thefe  young  ladies,  with  minds  vulgar  in 
every  fenfe  of  the  word,  and  fpoiled  tempers,  en- 
tered life  puffed  up  with  notions  of  their  own 
confequence,  and  looking  down  with  contempt 
on  thofe  who  could  not  vie  with  them  in  drefs 
and  parade. 

With  refped  to  love,  nature,  or  their  nurfes, 
had  taken  care  to  teach  them  the  phyfical  mean- 
ing of  the  word  ;  and,  as  they  had  few  topics  of 
converfation,  and  fewer  refinements  of  fentiment, 
they  expreffcd  their  grofs  wifhes  not  in  very  deli- 
cate phrafes,  when  they  fpoke  freely,  talking  of 
matrimony. 

Could  thefe  girls  have  been  injured  by  the  pe- 

rufal  of  novels  ?    I   almod  forgot  a  fhade  in  the 

charader  of  one  of  them  ;  fhe  affeCted  a  fimplici- 

ty  bordering  on  folly,  and  with  a  fimper   woyld 

W  a    ■        ~  utter 


324        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

utter  the  mofl  immodefl  remarks  and  qireftlon.^4 
the  full  meaning  of  which  fhe  had  learned  whilfl 
fecluded  from  the  world,  and  afraid  to  fpeak  in 
her  mother's  prefence/who  governed  with  a  high 
hand  :  they  were  all  educated,  as  fhe  prided  hef- 
f^Ky  in  a  moll  exemplary  manner  ;  and  read  their 
chapters  and  pfalms  before  breakfafl,  never  touch- 
ing a  lilly  novel. 

This  is  only  one  inftance ;  but  I  recollecfl:  ma-. 
ny  other  women  vv'ho,  not  led  by  degrees  to  pro- 
per ftudics,  and  not  permitted  to  choofe  for  them- 
felves,  have  indeed  been  overgrown  children  -,  or 
havie  obtained,  by  mixing  in  the  world,  a  little  of 
what  is  termed  common  fenfc  ^  that  is  a  diflindt 
manner  of  feeing  common  occurrences^  as  they 
ftand  detached  :  but  what  deferves  the  name  of 
intelle(5l,  the  power  of  gaining  general  or  abftracfl 
ideas,  or  even  intermediate  ones,  was  out  of  the 
queftion.  Their  minds  were  quiefcent,  and  when 
they  were  ftot  roufcd  by  fenfible  objedts  and  em- 
ployments of  that  kind,  they  were  low-fpirited, 
would  cry,  or  go  to  fleep. 

When,  therefore,  I  advife  my  fex  not  to  read 
fuch  flimfy  works,  it  is  to  induce  them  to  read 
fomething  fuperiour ;  for  I  coincide  in  opinion 
'With  a  fagacious  man,  who,  having  a  daughter 
and  niece  under  his  care,  purfued  a  very  different 
plan  with  each. 

The  niece,  who  had  confiderable  abilities,  had, 
before  ihe  was  left  to  his  guard ianfhip,  been  in- 
'dulged  in  defultory  reading.  Her  he  endeavour- 
ed to  lead,  and  did  lead  to  hiflory  and  moral  ef- 
fays  ;  but  his  daughter,  whom  a  fond,  weak  mo- 
ther had    indulged,  and   who   confequently  was 

averfe 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  525 

averfe  to  every  thing  like  application,  he  allowed 
to  read  novels  :  and  ufed  to  juftify  his  condu(ft^ 
by  faying,  that  if  fhe  ever  attained  a  relifli  for- 
reading  them,  he  fliould  have  fonr'xC  foundation  to' 
work  upon  ;  and  that  erroneous  opinions  were* 
better  than  none  at  all. 

In  fa6t  the  female  mind  has  been  fo  totally  ne- 
glected, that  knowledge  was  only  to  be  acquired 
from  this  muddy  fource,  till  from  reading  novels^ 
fome  women  of  fuperiour  talents  learned  to  defpifer 
them. 

The  befl  method,  I  believe,  that  can  be  adopted 
to  correct  a  fondnefs  for  novels  is  to  ridicule 
them  :  not  indifcriminately,  for  then  it  would 
have  little  effed:  ;  but,  if  a  judicious  perfon,  with 
fome  turn  for  hum.our,  would  read  feveral  to  a 
young  girl,  and  point  out  both  by  tones,  and  apt 
comparifons  with  pathetic  incidents  and  heroic 
charaifters  in  hiftory,  how  fooliibly  and  ridicu- 
louily  they  caricatured  human  nature,  juft  opin- 
ions might  be  fubftftuted  inflead  of  romantic 
fentiments. 

In  one  refped:,  however,  the  majority  of  both 
fexes  refemble,  and  equally  fhew  a  want  of  taftc 
and  modefty.  .  Ignorant  women,  forced  to  be 
chafte  to  preferve  their  reputation,  allow  their 
imagination  to  revel  in  the  unnatural  and  mere- 
tricious fcenes  fketched  by  the  novel  writers  of 
the  day,  flighting  as  infipid  the  fober  dignity  and 


matronly 


ly  graces  of  hiftory*.  whilft  men  carry 
fl:  Tiiod;:   W:--^   '  -■''^-   ^"  "O"'^-'  ^       the 


*  T  am-net  tvow  allu^g  to  Hi^'PTupirloiIty  of  mind  which  leads  to  >** 
creation  of  ideal  beauty,  when  life,  foiveyed  vAiih  a  penetrating  ey?(-ap- 
pear»  a  tragi-comedy,  iii  which'Hj^Ie  can  b?  fecu  to  fa'isf^  the  heart  w1t|>-. 

0ut the i«ip cf  ian^;-^ .  /    iq  fsv^i*  nr.   ■:.  ii'Jin  -m 


326         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

the  fame  vitiated  tafte  into  life,  and  fly  for  amufe- 
ment  to  the  wanton,  from  the   unfophifticated 
charms  of  virtue,  and  the  grave  refpedtability  of 
fenfc. 

Befides,  the  reading  of  novels  makes  women, 
and  particularly  ladies  of  fafhion,  very  fond  of 
uling  flrong  expreflions  and  furperlatives  in  con- 
verfation ;  and,  though  the  diffipated  artificial 
life  which  they  lead  prevents  their  cherilhing  any 
flrong  legitimate  pafTion,  the  language  of  paffioa 
In  afte€ted  tones  flips  forever  from  their  glib 
tongues,  and  every  trifle  produces  thofe  phofpho- 
ric  burfls  which  only  inimick  in  the  dark  the 
flame  of  pafTion. 

SECT.       III. 

Ignorance  and  the  miftaken  cunning  that 
nature  fharpens  in  weak  heads  as  a  principle  of 
felf-p refer vation,  render  women  very  fond  of 
drefs,  and  produce  all  the  vanity  which  fuch  a 
fondnefs  may  naturally  be  expected  to  generate, 
to  the  excluiion  of  emulation  and  magnanimity. 

I  agree  with  Rouffeau  that  the  phyfical  part  of 
the  art  of  pleafing  confifls  in  ornaments,  and  for 
that  very  reafon  I  fhould  guard  girls  againft  the 
contagious  fondnefs  for  drefs  fo  common  ta 
w^eak  women,  that  they  may  not  reft  in  the  phy- 
fical  part.  Yet,  weak  are  the  women  who  ima- 
gine that  they  can  long  pleafe  without  the  aid  of 
the  mind,  or,  in  other  words,  without  the  moral 
art  of  pleafing.  But  the  moral  art,  if  it  be  not  a 
profanation  to  ufe  the  word  art,  when  alluding  to 
the  grace  which  is  an  cffc<^  of  virtue,    and  not 


th 


e 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  327 

the  motive  of  a<5lion,  is  never  to  be  found  with 
ignorance  ;  the  fportivcnefs  of  innocence,  fo 
pleafing  to  refined  libertines  of  both  fexes,  is 
widely  different  in  its  effence  from  this  fuperiour 
graceful  nefs. 

A  flrons:  inclination  for  external  ornaments 
ever  appears  in  barbarous  ftates,  only  the  men 
not  the  women  adorn  themfejves  ;  for  where 
women  are  allowed  to  be  fo  far  on  a  level  with 
men,  fociety  has  advanced,  at  leafl,  one  ftep  in 
civilization. 

The  attention  to  drefs,  therefore,  which  has 
been  thought  a  fexual  propenfity,  I  thirjjc  natural 
to  mankind.  But  I  ought  to  exprefs  myfelf  with 
more  precifion.  When  the  mind  is  not  fufficient- 
]y  opened  to  take  pleafure  in  refledlion,  the  bo^y 
will  be  adorned  with  fedulous  care  ;  and  ambi-' 
tion  will  appear  in  tattooing  or  painting  it. 

So  far  is  the  firft  inclination  carried,  that  even 
the  hellifh  yoke  of  ilavery  cannot  ftifle  the  favage 
defire  of  admiration  which  the  black  heroes  in- 
herit from  both  their  parents,  for  all  the  hardly 
earned  favings  of  a  flave  are  commonly  expended 
in  a  little  tawdry  finery.  And  I  have  feldom. 
known  a  good  male  or  female  fervant  that  was 
not  particularly  fond  of  drefs.  Their  clothes 
were  their  riches  ;  and,  I  argue  from  analogy, 
that  the  fondnefs  for  drefs,  fo  extravagant  in  fe- 
males, arifes  from  the  fame  caufe — want  of  cul- 
tivation of  mind.  When  men  meet  they  con- 
verfe  about  bufinefs,  politics,  or  literature  ;  but, 
fays  Swift,  *  how  naturally  do  women  ^pply  their 
*  hands  to  each  others  lappets  and  ruffles.'  And" 
very  natural  is  it-^-for  they  have  not  any  bufmeii 
W4  '  to 


32^-        VINDICATION  OF  THE 

to  interefl  them,  have  not  a  tafte  for  literature, 
and  they  find  politics  dry,  becaufe  they  have  not 
acquired  a  love  for  mankind  by  turning  their 
thoughts  to  the  grand  purfuits  that  exalt  the 
human  race,  and  promote  general  happinels. 

Belides,  various  are  the  paths  to  power  and 
fame  which  by  accident  or  choice  men  purfue,and 
though  they  joftle  againft  each  other,  for  men  of 
thG  fame  profeffion  are  feldom  friends,  yet  there 
is  a  much  greater  number  of  their  fellow-crea- 
tures with  whom  they  never  clafh.  But  women 
are  very  differently  fituated  with  refpedt  to  each 
other — fqr  they  are  all  rivals. 

Before  marriage  it  is  their  bufmefs  to  pleafe 
men  ;  and  after,  with  a  few  exceptions,  they  foU 
Ipw  the  fame  fcent  with  all  the  perfevering  per- 
tinacity of  inflinft.  Even  virtuous  women  never 
forget  their  fex  in  company,  for  they  are  forever  try- 
ing to  make  themfelves  ^^r^^^^/f?.  A  female  beau- 
ty, and  a  male  wit  appear  to  be  equally  anxious  to 
draw  the  attention  of  the  company  to  themfelves ; 
and  the  animolity  of  contemporary  wits  is  pro- 
verbial. 

Is  it  then  furprifmg  that  when  the  fole  ambition 
of  WQman  centres  in  beauty,  and  intereft  gives 
vanity  additional  force,  perpetual  rivalfhips  fliould 
enfue  ?  They  are  all  running  the  fame  race,  and 
would  rife  above  the  virtue  of  mortals,  if  they  did 
not  view  each  other  with  a  fufpicious  and  even  en^ 
vious  eye. 

An  immoderate  fondnefs  for  drefs,  for  pleafure-, 
and  for  fway,  are. the  paffions  of  favages ;  the  paf- 
fions  that  occupy  thofe  uncivilized  beings  who 
have  not  yet  extended  the  dominion  of  tliemind,  or 
fven  learned  to  think  with   the   energy  neceilary 

to 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  329 

to  concatenate  that  abftradl  train  of  thought 
which  produces  principles.  And  that  women  from 
their  education  and  the  prefent  ftate  of  civiHzed 
life,  are  in  the  fame  condition,  cannot,  I  think, 
be  controverted.  To  laugh  at  them  then,  or 
fatirize  the  follies  of  a  being  who  is  never  to  be 
allowed, to  ad;  freely  from  the  light  of  her  own 
reafon,  is  as  abfurd  as  cruel  ;  for,  that  they  who 
are  taught  blindly  to  obey  authority,  v^iil  endea- 
vour cunningly  to  elude  it,  is  mofl  natural  and 
certain. 

Yet  let  it  be  proved  that  they  ought  to  obey 
man  implicitly,  and  I  fliall  immediately  agree 
that  it  is  woman's  duty  to  cultivate  a  tondneis 
for  drefs,  and  in  order  to  pleafe,  and  a  propenfity 
to  cunning  for  her  own  prefervation. 

The  virtues,  however,  which  are  fupported 
by  ignorance,  mufl  ever  be  wavering — the  hoafe 
built  on  fand  could  not  endure  a  irorm.  It  is 
almoft  unneceiTary  to  draw  the  inference. — If  wo- 
men are  to  be  made  virtuous  by  authority,  which 
is  a  contradiction  in  terms,  let  them  be  immured 
in  feraglios  and  watched  with  a  jealous  eye. — Fear 
not  that  the  iron  will  enter  into  their  fouls — for 
the  fouls  that  can  bear  fiich  treatment  arc  made 
of  yielding  materials,  jufl  animated  enough  to 
give  life  to  the  body. 

*  Matter  too  foft  a  bHing  maik  to  bear, 

*  And  beft  dillmguiflrj  by  black,  biown,  or  fair.' 

The  moll  cruel  wounds  will  of  cozrfe  foon  heal, 
and  they  may  dill  people  die  world,  and  drefs  to 
pleafe  man — all  the  purpofes  whicli  certain  cele- 
brated writers  h:we  allp.wed. that  they  were  cre- 
ated to  fulfil,  '^i:/.;!-  -' 

SECT. 


330         VINDICATION  OF  THE 


SECT.       IV. 

Women  are  fuppofcd  to  pollefs  more  fcnfi- 
bility,  and  even  humanity,  than  men,  and  their 
ilrong  attachments  and  inftantaneous  emotions  of 
companion  are  given  as  proofs  ;  but  the  cHnging- 
affedtion  of  ignorance  has  feldom  any  thing  noble 
in  it,  and  may  moftly  be  refolved  into  lelfiflinefs, 
as  well  as  the  aitedtion  of  children  and  brutes.  I 
have  known  many  weak  women  whofe  fenfibility 
was  entirely  engrollcd  by  their  hufbands  ;  and  as 
fo^  their  humanity,  it  was  very  faint  indeed,  or 
rather  it  was  only  a  tranfient  emotion  of  compaf- 
lion.     Hum.anity  does  not  confift  *  in  a  fqueam- 

*  ifh  ear,'  fays  an  eminent  orator,     *  It  belongs 

*  to  the  mind  as  v/eli  as  the  nerves.' 

But  this  kind  of  exclufive  affedion,  though  it 
degrades  the  individual,  Should  not  be  brought 
forward  as  a  proof  of  the  inferiority  of  the  fex,, 
becaufe  it  is  the  natural  confequence  of  confined 
views  :  for  even  v/omen  of  fuperiour  fenfe,  hav- 
ing their  attention  turned  to  little  employments, 
and  private  plans,  rarely  rife  to  heroifm,  unlefs 
when  fpurred  on  by  love  3  and  love,  as  an  heroic 
pafTion,  like  genius,  appears  but  once  in  an  age. 
i  therefore   ?gree  with  the  m.oralift  who  afierts^ 

*  that  women  have  'feldom  fo  much  generofity  as 

*  men  /  and  that  their  narrow  aft^dions,  to 
which  juilice  and  humanity  are  often  facrificcd,. 
render  the  fex  apparently  inferiour,  efpecially,  as 
they  are  commonly  infpired  by  men  y  but  I  con-r 
tend  that  the  heart  would  expand  as  the  under- 
flandinof  C;ained  ftren";th,  if  women  were  n£)t  de^ 
preffcd  from  their  cr.>dles-  I 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  331 

I  know  that  a  little  fenfibillty,  and  gre.it  weak- 
nefs,  will  produce  a  ftrong  fexual  attachment,  and 
that  reafon  muft  cement  friendiliip  ;  confequent- 
ly,  I  allow  that  more  friendflilp  is  to  be  found  in 
the  male  than  the  female  world,  and  that  men 
have  a  higher  fenfe  of  juftice.  The  exclufive  af- 
fediions  of  women  fecm  indeed  to  refemble  Cato's 
moft  unjuft  love  for  his  country.  He  wiHied  to 
crufh  Carthage,  not  to  five  Rome,  but  to  pro- 
mote its  vain-glory  ;  and,  in  general,  it  is  to  fim- 
ilar  principles  that  humanity  is  facriiiced,  for  ge- 
nuine duties  fupport  each  other. 

Befides,  how  can  women  be  juft  or  generous, 
when  they  are  the  flaves  of  injufiicc  ? 

SECT.       v. 

As  the  rearing  of  children,  that  is,  t?ie  laying 
a  foundation  of  found  health  both  of  body  and 
mind  In  the  rlfing  generation,  has  juflly  been  in- 
fifted  on  as  the  peculiar  deftinatlon  of  woman, 
the^ignorance  that  incapacites  them  muft  be  con- 
trary to  the  order  of  things.  And  I  contend 
that  their  minds  can  take  in  much  more,  and 
ought  to  do  (o,  or  they  will  never  become  fen- 
fible  mothers.  Many  men  attend  to  the  breeding 
of  horfes,  and  overlook  the  mana;^ementof  the  fta- 
ble,  who  would,  flrange  want  of  fenfe  and  feeling  ! 
think  themfelves  degraded  by  paying  any  atten- 
tion to  the  nurfery  ;  yet,  how  many  children  are 
abfolutely  murdered  by  the  ignorance  of  women  ! 
But  when  they  efcapc,  and  arc  neither  deflroyed 
by  unnatural  negligence  nor  blind  fondnefs,  how 
few  are  managed  properly  v/ith  riipc^^l  to  the  in- 
fant 


332         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

fant  mind  !  So  that. to. break  the  fpirit,  allowed 
to  become  vicious  at  home,  a  child  is.  fent  to 
fcIiGXDl  ;  and  the  methods  taken  there,  which 
mufl  be  taken  to  keep  a  number  of  children  in 
order,  fcatter  the  feeds  of  almoft  every  vice  in  the 
foil  thus  forcibly  torn  up.     . 

I  have  fomctimes  compared  the  flruggles  of 
thefe  poor  children  who  ought  never,  to  have  felt 
reftraint,  nor  would,  had  they  been  always  held 
in  with  an  even  hand,  to  the  defpairing  plunges 
of  a  fpirited  filly,  which  I  have  feen  breaking  on 
a  ilrand  :  its  feet  finking  deeper  and  deeper  in 
the  fand  every  time  it  endeavoured  to  throw  its 
rider,  till  at  lafi:  it  fuUenly  fubmitted. 

I  have  always  found  horfes,  an  animal  I  am  at- 
tached to,  very  tractable  when  treated  with  hu- 
manity and  fteadinefs,  fo  that  I  doubt  whether 
the  violent  methods  taken  to  break  them,  do  not 
efi^entially  injure  them  ;  I  am,  however,  certain 
that  a  child  fliould  never  be  thus  forcibly  tamed 
after  it  has  injudicioufly  been  allowed  to  run  wild  ; 
for  every  violation  of  jufiiiceand  reafon,  in  the 
treatment  of  children,  weakens  their  realon. 
And,  fo  early  do  they  catch  a  charad;er,  that  the 
bafe  of  the  moral  chara6ler,  experience  leads  rne 
to  infer,  is  fixed  before  their  feventh  year,  the 
period  during  which  Vv'omen  are  allowed  the  fole 
management  of  children.  Afterwards  it  too  often, 
happens  that  half  the  bufinefs  of  education  is  to 
correct,  and  very  imperfectly  is  it  done,  if  done 
haftily,  the  faults,  which  they  would  nevfer  have 
acquired  if  their  mothers  had  had  more  tmder-' 
Handing. 

OnQ 


RIGHTS  OF  WOxMAI^:"  3jj 

One  ftriking  inftance  of  the  folly 'of  women 
tiluft  not  be  omitted. — The  manner  in  which 
they  treat  fervants  in    the  prefence  of  children, 

'permitting  them  to  fuppofe  that  they  ought  to 
wait  on  them,  and  bear  their  humours.  A  child 
fliould  always  be  made  to  receive  afhilance  from 
a  man  or  woman  as  a  favour  -,  and,  as  the  firffc 
leffon  of  independence,  they  lliould  practically  be 

'taught,  by  the  example  of  their  mother,  not   to 

■  require  that  perfonal  attendance,  which  it  is  an 
in  fill  t  to  humanity  to  require,  when  in  health  ; 
arid  iriftead  of  being  led  to  aflume  airs  'of  confe- 

'quence,  a  (ciiCq  of  their  own  weaknefs  fhouldiirft 
make  them  feel  the  natural  equality  of  man. 
Yet,  how  frequently  have  I  indignantly  heard 
fervants  impcrioully  called  to  put  children  to  bed, 
and  fent  away  again  and  again,  becaufe  mafter  or 
mifs  hung  about  mamma,  to  flay  a  little  longer. 
Thus  made  flaviflily  to  attend  the  little  idol,  all 
thofe  moft  difgufting  humours  were  exhibited 
which  charadterize  a  fpoiled  child. 

In  fhort,  fpeaking  of  the  majority  of  mothers, 
they  leave  their  children  entirely  to  the  care  of 
fervants  -,  or,  becaufe  they  are  their  children  treat 
them  as  if  they  were  little  demi-gods,  though  I 
have  always  obferved,  that  the  women  who  thus 
idolize  their  children,  feldom  (liew  common  hu- 
manity to  fervants,  or  feel  the  lealft  tendernefs  for 
any  children  but  their  own. 

It  is,  however,  thcfe  cxclufive  affections,  and 
an  individual  manner  of  feeing  things    produced 

•  by  ignorance,  which  keep  women   for   ever  at  a 
ftand,  with  refpeft   to  improvement,    and  make 
many  of  them  dedicate  their  lives  to  their  chil- 
dren 


334 


VLNDICATION  OF  THE 


dren  only  to  weaken  their  bodies  and  fpoil  their 
tempers,  fruflrating  alfo  any  plan  of  education 
that  a  more  rational  father  may  adopt ;  for  unlefs 
a  mother  concurs,  the  father  who  rellrains  will 
ever  be  confidered  as  a  tyrant. 

But,  fulfilling  the  duties  of  a  mother,  a  wo- 
man with  a  found  conllitution,  may  flill  keep 
her  perfon  fcrupuloufly  neat,  and  aflifl  to  main- 
tain her  family,  if  nccellary,  or  by  reading  and 
converfations  with  both  fexes,  indifcriminately, 
improve  her  mind.  For  nature  has  Co  wifely 
ordered  things,  that  did  women  fucklc  their 
children,  they  would  preferve  their  own  health, 
and  there  would  be  liich  an  interval  between  the 
birth  of  each  child,  that  we  fliould  feldom  fee 
a  houfeful  of  babes.  And  did  they  purfue  a  plan 
of  conduifi,  and  not  w^afle  their  time  in  follow- 
ing the  fafliionable  vagaries  of  drefs,  the  manage- 
ment of  their  houfehold  and  children  need  not 
fliut  them  out  from  literature,  nor  prevent  their 
attaching  themfelves  to  a  fcience  with  that  fleady 
eye  which  llrengthens  the  mind,  or  pra(flifing 
one  of  the  fine  arts  that  cultivate  the  tafte. 

But,  vifiting  to  difplay  finery,  card-playing,  and 
balls,  not  to  mention  the  idle  buftle  of'miorning 
trifling,  draw  women  from  their  duty  to  render 
them  inlignificant,  to  render  them  pleafmg,  ac- 
cording to  the  prefent  acceptation  of  the  word,  to 
every  man,  but  their  hulhand*  For  a  round  of 
pleafures  in  which  the  aftedions  arc  not  exercifed, 
cannot  be  faid  to  improve  the  underflanding, 
though  it  be  erroneoufly  called  feeing  the  world  ; 
yet  the  heart  is  rendered  cold  and  averfe  to  duty, 
by  fuch  a   fenfelefs  intercourfe,  which  becomes 

neceflary 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  23S 

neceflary  from  habit  even  when   it  has  ceafed  to 
amafe. 

But,  till  more  equality  be  eftablifhed  in  focicty^ 
till  ranks  are  confounded  and  women  freed,  wc 
Ihall  not  fee  that  dignified  domeftic  happinefs, 
the  fimple  grandeur  of  which  cannot  be.relifhed 
"by  ignorant  or  vitiated  minds  ;  nor  will  the  im-i 
portant  tafk  of  education  ever  be  properly  begun 
till  the  perfon  of  a  woman  is  no  longer  preferred 
to  her  mind.  For  it  vv-ould  be  as  wife  to  expedl 
corn  from  tares,  or  figs  from  thiflles,  as  that  a 
fooli{h  ignorant  woman  fliould  be  a  good  moth- 


er. 


SECT.     ri. 

It  is  not  necefiary  to  inform  the  fagacious 
reader,  now  I  enter  on  my  concluding  refied:ions, 
that  the  difcufiion  of  this  fubjei^  merely  confills 
in  opening  a  few  fimple  principles,  and  clearing 
^way  the  rubbifh  which  obfcured  them.  But,  as 
all  readers  are  not  fa^acious,  I  muft  be  allowed  to 
add  fome  explanatory  remarks  to  bring  the  fubjedt 
home  to  reafon — to  that  fluggilh  reafon,  which 
fupinely  takes  opinions  on  truil,  and  obllinately 
fupports  them  to  fpare  itfelf  the  labour  of  think- 
ing. 

Moralifls  have  unanimouily  agreed,  that  un- 
lefs  virtue  be  nurfed  by  liberty,  it  will  never  at- 
tain due  Hreiigth— ^and  what  they  fay  of  man  I 
extend  to  mankind,  infixing  that  in  all  cafes  mor- 
als mud  be  fixed  on  immutable  principles ;  and, 
that  the  beinsf  cnnnot  be  termed  rational  or  vir^ 
tLious,  who  obeys  any  authority.,  but  that  of  rea- 
fon, ,  To 


536         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

To  render  women  truly  ufeful  members  of  To-* 
ciety,  I  argue  that  they  (liouid  be  led,  by  having 
their  underflandin^s  cultivated  on  a  larre  fcale, 
to  acquire  a  rational  affedion  for  their  country, 
founded  on  knowledge,  becaufe  it  is  obvious  that 
we  are  little  interefted  about  what  we  do  not  un- 
■derftand.  And  to  render  this  general  knowledge 
of  due  importance,  I  have  endeavoured  to  ihew 
that  private  duties  are  never  properly  fulfilled  un- 
lefs  the  underftanding  enlarges  the  heart  ;  and 
that  public  virtue  is  only  an  aggregate  of  pri- 
vate. But,  the  diitindtions  eftablifhed  in  fociety 
undermine  both,  by  beating  out  the  folid  gold  of 
virtue,  till  it  becomes  only  the  tinfel-covering  of 
vice  ;  for  whilft  wealth  renders  a  man  more  re- 
fpedtable  than  virtue,  wealth  will  be  fought  be- 
fore virtue  ;  and  whilft  women's  perfons  are  ca- 
reiTed,  when  a  childidi  fimper  fliews  an  abfcnceof 
mind — the  mind  will  lie  fallow.  Yet,  true  vo- 
luptuoufnefs  mufl  proceed  from  the  mind — for 
what  can  equal  the  fenfations  produced  by  mu- 
tual affediion,  fup ported  by  mutual  rcfpc'fl  ?  What 
are  the  cold,  or  feverilli  carefTes  of  appetite,  but 
fm  embracing  death,  compared  with  the  modeft 
overflowings  of  a  pure  heart  and  exalted  imagin- 
ation ?  Yes,  let  me  tell  the  libertine  of  fancy 
when  he  delpifes  underftanding  in  w^oman — that 
the  mind,  which  he  difrcgards,  gives  life  to  the 
cnthufiaflic  aifedion  from  which  rapture,  fliort- 
lived  as  it  is,  alone  can  flow  !  And,  that,  with- 
out virtue,  a  fexual  attachment  mufl  expire,  like 
a  tallow  candle  in  the  focket,  creating  intolerable 
diiguft.  To  prove  this,  I  need  only  obferve, 
that  men  who  have  waflcd  great   part   of  their 

lives 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  337 

lives'  with  women,  and  with  whom  they  have 
ifought  for  pleafure  with  eager  thiril,  entertain  the 
meaneil:  opinion  of  the  fex.— Virtue,  true  refiner 
of  joy  !— if  fooHfh  men  were  to  fright  thee  from 
earth,  in  order  to  give  loofe  to  all  their  appetites 
without  a  check — feme  fenfual  wight  of  tafle 
Would  fcale  the  heavens  to  invite  thee  back,  to 
give  a  zeft  to  pleafure  ! 

That  women  at  prefeht  are  by  ignorance  fen-i 
dered  fbolifli  or  vicious,  is,- 1  thinks  not  to  be 
difputed  ;  and,  that  the  moft  falutary  effedls  tend- 
ing to  improve  mankind  might  be  expecfledt 
from  a  revolution  in  female  manners,  ap- 
pears, at  leafi,  with  a  face  of  probability,  to  rife 
put  of  the  obfervation.  For  as  marriage  has 
been,  termed  the  parent  of  thofe  endearing  chari- 
ties which  draw  man  from  the  brutal  herd,  the  cor- 
rupting intercourfe  that  wealth,  idlenefs,  and  fol- 
ly, produce  between  the  fexes,  is  more  univerfally 
injurious  to  morality  than  all  the  other  vices  of 
mankind  coUediively  confidered.  To  adulterous 
luft  the  moft  facred  duties  are  facrificed,  be- 
caufe  before  marriage,  men,  by  a  promifcuous 
intimacy  with  women,  learned  to  confider  love 
as^jt  feliifh  gratification — learned  to  feparate  it 
not  only  from  efiieem  but  from  the  affection, 
merely  built  on  habit,  which  mix^es  a  little  hu- 
manity with  it.  Juftice  and  friendfliip  are  alfo 
fet  at  defiance,  and  that  purity  of  tafte  is  vitiated 
which  would  naturally  lead  a  man  to  relilhi  an  art^ 
Icfs  difplay  of  affection  rather  than  affedcd  airs. 
But  that  noble  fimplicity  cf  affedion,  which  dares 
to  appear  unadorned,  has  fewattraftions  for  the  lib- 
ertine, though  it  be  the  charm,  which  by  cement- 

X  irig 


338         VINDICATION  OF  THE 

ing  the  matrimonial  tie,  fecurcs  to  the  pledges  of 
0  warmer  palTion  the  neccflary  parental  attention; 
for  children  will  never  be  properly  educated  till 
friendfliip  lubfifts  between  parents.  Virtue  flies 
from  a  houfe  divided  againft  itfelf — and  a  whole 
legion  of  devils  take  up  their  refidence  there. 

The  aifedtion  of  hufbands  and  wives  cannot 
be  pure  when  they  have  fo  few  fentiments  in 
common,  and  when  fo  little  confidence  is  cftab- 
liflied  at  home,  as  muft  be  the  cafe  when  their  pur-r 
fuits  are  fo  different.  That  intimacy  from  which 
tendernefs  fhould  flow,  will  not,  cannot  fubfifl 
between    the   vicious. 

Contending,  therefore,  that  the  fexual  dif- 
tin6lion  whicli  men  have  fo  warmly  infifted 
upon,  is  arbitrary,  I  have  dwelt  on  an  obferva-r 
tion,  that  feveral  fenfible  men,  with  whom  I 
have  converfed  on  the  fubjedt,  allowed  to  be  well 
founded  ;  and  it  is  fimply  this,  that  the  little 
chaflity  to  be  found  amongft  men,  and  confe- 
quent  difregard  of  modefly,  tend  to  degrade  both 
fexes  ;  and  further,  that  the  mpdefty  of  women, 
charaiflerized  as  fuch,  will  often  be  only  the  artr 
ful  veil  of  wantonnefs  jnftead  of  being  the  natu- 
ral refledlion  of  pvirjty,  till  modefly  be  pnivprfally 
refpecfled. 

From  the  tyranny  of  man,  I  firmly  believe,  the 
vgreater  number  of  female  follies  proceed ;  anci 
the  cunning,  which  I  allow  makes  at  prer 
'  ient  a  part  of  their  charadler,  I  likewife  have  re- 
peatedly endeavoured  to  prove,  is  produced  by  op- 
prcffion. 

Were  not  difTcntcrs,   for  inflance,   a  clafs  of 
people,    with  flrid  truth  chara(fterized  as  cun? 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  339 

ning  ?  And  may  I  not  lay  fome  ftrefs  on  this  fadt 
to  prove,  that  when  any  power  but  reafon  curbs 
the  free  fpirit  of  man,  dillimulation  is  pradifed, 
and  the  various  fliifts  of  art  are  naturally  called 
forth  ?  Great  attention  to  decorum,  which  was 
carried  to  a  degree  of  fcrupulofity,  and  all  that 
puerile  buftle  about  trifles  and  confequential  fo- 
lemnity,  which  Butler's  caricature  of  a  diffenter, 
brings  before  the  imagination,  Ihaped  their  per- 
fons  as  well  as  their  minds  in  the  mould  of  prim 
littlenefs,  I  fpeak  collectively,  for  I  know  how 
many  ornaments  to  human  nature  have  been  en- 
rolled amongfl  fedlaries ;  yet,  1  afTert,  that  the 
fame  narrow  prejudice  for  their  fedt,  which  wo- 
men have  for  their  families,  prevailed  in  the  dif- 
fenting  part  of  the  community,  however  worthy 
in  other  refpeds  ;  and  alfo  that  the  fame  timid 
prudence,  or  headftrong  efforts,  often  difgraced 
the  exertions  of  both.  OpprelTion  thus  formed 
many  of  the  features  of  their  character  perfectly 
to  coincide  with  that  of  the  oppreffed  half  of 
mankind  ;  for  is  it  not  notorious  that  diflenters 
were,  like  women,  fond  of  deliberating  together, 
and  afking  advice  of  each  other,  till  by  a  com- 
plication of  little  contrivances,  fome  little  end 
was  brought  about  ?  A  fimilar  attention  to  pre- 
serve their  reputation  was  confpicuous  in  the  dif- 
fcnting  and  female  world,  an4  was  produced  by  a 
limilar  caufe. 

Aflerting  the  rights  which  women  incommoa 
with  men  ought  to  contend  for,  I  have  not  at- 
tempted to  extenuate  their  faults  ;  but  to  prove 
them  to  be  the  natural  confequence  of  their  edu- 
cation and  ftation  in  fociety.     If  fo,  it  is  reafon- 

able 


340  VINDICATION,  &c. 

able  to  fuppofe  that  they  will  change  their  cha- 
rader,  and  corred:  their  vices  and  follies,  when 
they  are  allowed  to  be  free  in  a  phyfical,  morale 
and  civil  fenfe*. 

Let  woman  fhare  the  rights  and  fhe  will  em- 
ulate the  virtues  of  man  •  for  fhe  rrtuft  grow 
Hiore  perfe(ft  when  emancipated,  of  juftify  the 
authority  that  chains  fuch  a  weak  being  to  her 
duty.— If  the  latter,  it  will  be  expedient  to  open 
a  frefh  trade  with  RufTia  for  whips  ;  a  prefcnt 
which  a  father  fhould  always  make  to  his  fon -in- 
law on  his  wedding  day,  that  a  hulband  may  keep 
his  whole  family  in  order  by  the  fame  means  j 
and  without  any  violation  of  juftice  reign,  wield- 
ing this  fceptre,  folc  mafter  of  his  houfc,  becaufe 
he  is  the  only  being  in  it  who  has  reaibn  :— the 
divine,  indefeafible  earthly  fovereignty  breathed 
into  man  by  the  Mafter  of  theuniverfe*  Allow- 
ing this  pofition,  womerl  have  not  any  inherent 
rights  to  claim  J  and  by  the  fame  rule,  their  duties 
vanifh,  for  rights  and  duties  ate  infeparable. 

Be  juft  then,  O  ye  men  of  underftanding  !  and 
mark  not  more  feverely  what  women  do  amifsj 
than  the  vicious  tricks  of  the  horfe  or  the  afs  for 
whom  ye  provide  provender — and  allow  her  the 
privileges  of  ignorance,  to  whom  ye  deny  thef 
rights  of  reafon,  or  ye  will  be  worfe  than  Egyp- 
tian tafk-mafters,  expeding  virtue  where  nature 
has  not  given  underftanding  ! 

•  I  had  further  enlarged  on  the  advantages  which  might  rearonably  b» 
expefted  to  refult  from  an  impronment  in  female  mannerj,  towards  the 
general  reformation  of  fociety  ;  but  it  appeared  to  me-that  fuctt  teAeSionS 
would  more  properly  dofe  the  lalt  Toiuine. 


1 


^i 


V, 


•> 


f  - 


